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An accelerator known as a muon collider could revolutionize particle physics—if it can be built. The December 2023 P5 report calls for R&D on a muon collider, stating, “This is our muon shot.” A muon collider could fit on the campus of Fermilab, enabling the U.S. to reclaim the lead in the continuing competition for the highest energy collider.

Recent research on muons reveals inconsistencies between observed magnetic behaviors and theoretical predictions, hinting the potential discovery of new physical phenomena or the need to update quantum mechanics theories.

Fermilab research and announcements have helped promote the mystery of muons by studying how they wobble as they move through the magnetic ring. With science announcements in 2021 and 2023, science interested readers are wanting to learn more about the heavy cousins of electrons that are constantly raining down on Earth’s surface.

Naperville News 17 talks with Dr. Paul Bloom, an associate professor at North Central College, about the college’s role in the latest results of the Muon g-2 experiment.

From RTS (Swiss Broadcasting Corporation), Sept. 7, 2023: Fermilab’s August 10 announcement indicated the muon does not behave as theory predicts. Professor Tobias Golling, from the particle physics department at the University of Geneva, explains in a video that there are two possibilities to explain the observed discrepancy.

What is the future of muon colliders? Particle physicists are seeing less challenges in their development than ten years go and are pushing for a muon collider as the P5 report comes out this fall.

A large number of scientists are working on improving the Standard Model prediction of the value of muon g-2 using new data and new lattice calculations. By measuring and calculating this number to ultra-high precision, scientists can test whether the Standard Model is complete.