One of the most fundamental particles might be heavier than we knew it until now

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Sometimes, certainties are not certain anymore. And this is always an interesting thing, at least in Physics… A new paper published today by the CDF experiment at @Fermilab provides a new, super-precise measurement of “W” particle’s mass …and the value does not match anymore!

“W” is a fundamental particle, part of the “Standard Model”, which includes all fundamental particles and their interactions. W is the carrier of the “weak nuclear force” responsible of the radioactive decay of chemical elements and the mechanisms inside stars

Until now, all calculations and experiments agreed on a value of the mass of the W particle. Until now…

Today, the CDF experiment at @Fermilab published a new, much more precise measurement. A measure with a little 0.01% uncertainty. …which shifted the value of W mass by a small but important amount! In red, at the bottom, in the plot 👇

And now? Now another independent experiment should confirm this finding, to exclude experimental or human issues. Then, if confirmed, new physics should probably be searched for: a new force or particle would come in? 😏

This is the scientific paper published today on Science: doi.org/10.1126/science.abk1781 — Photos in the thread: CDF/Fermilab, CERN, Science

Questions? Please, ask in the comments! 👇👍 And for other threads like this, follow me —> @SubatomicHunter Have a nice day 👋

And this is the very nice cover of the "Science" issue featuring the W mass paper!