New measurements of Proton radius have shown that 2010 measurements, which showed an unknown interaction between protons and muons causing a puzzling reduction in proton radius, were in error.
Almost ten years ago German physicists reported a reduction in the radius of Protons when electrons were replaced with Muons in Hydrogen atoms. This lead to hopes for new physics (the best kind) but these hopes have now been dashed.
If the discrepancy was real, meaning protons really shrink in the presence of muons, this would imply unknown physical interactions between protons and muons—a fundamental discovery. Hundreds of papers speculating about the possibility have been written in the years since.
But hopes that the "proton radius puzzle" would upend particle physics and reveal new laws of nature have now been dashed by a new measurement reported on September 6 in Science.
The new measurements by Distinguished Research Professor Eric Hessels of York University in Toronto and his team "suggest that the proton does not change size depending on context; rather, the old measurements using electronic hydrogen were wrong."
According to Hessels, the result, which "points to the most mundane explanation" is bittersweet.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @06:51PM (1 child)
So physicists are like computer programmers: bored at work.
Where is there anything new?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @07:44PM
SoylentNews?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @09:01PM (1 child)
What is the definition of "radius" here? I mean, we are obviously dealing in QM-level dimension where things are non-local. What is the boundary between "inside" and "outside"?
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday September 17 2019, @12:39AM
One of the metrics, (scattering) cross-section [wikipedia.org] - incidentally the historically first method used by Rutherford [wikipedia.org]. Has a quantum formulation [wikipedia.org] too.
The other seems to involve the fine structure of emission spectrum (of hydrogen), which somehow involves the nuclear (proton for hydrogen) radius. A thing that I still need to get my head around when time allows.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Monday September 16 2019, @10:49PM (4 children)
I remember around '80 or so my boss used a logic analyzer to find a problem. I was taught bits go in, and bits come out instantly. That logic analyzer showed a 12 ns delay from input to output (it was a 74xx inverter). Yeah, I remember it. I could even remember the name of the LA maker until I needed it 30 seconds ago.
Used to go to trade shows in the 80s, shoot the shit with guys in booths 10-20 years older than me who said "yeah, they can't make ICs any smaller". About that time they were hitting human hair dimensions. Around '90 I wised up on that issue, but still fondly remember the discussions.
Now they're measuring the width of a proton. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. I'm old, makes me wonder what mind boggling things they'll learn in the 10-20 years I have left.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @10:58PM (1 child)
Anti-aging (you'll die from being struck by an autonomous flying Uber instead).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 17 2019, @06:22AM
It's on the way.
https://www.rankred.com/reverse-biological-age/ [rankred.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 17 2019, @01:30PM
I'm pretty sure we are close to solving physics once and for all, there just isn't anything under the quarks.
</sarcasm>
(Score: 2) by Muad'Dave on Tuesday September 17 2019, @04:03PM
Those old 74xx-series chips were slow and power hungry. (The inverter was a 7404 for the hex TTL variety). Take a look at this table [wikipedia.org]. Wow.
I remember working on Concurrent/Perkin Elmer minicomputers [1000bit.it] that had 2 MB memory boards that were 17x17" and took many, many amps of +5. The computers themselves were 220V and had multiple 100A 5V supplies. All of the CPU boards (yes, 4 17x17" boards) were wall-to-wall TTL chips.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 17 2019, @12:11PM
vell, it's good there's a switch with ON/OFF for entanglement and it's good it was in the off position for protons IN and protons OUT during this experiment ...
now off to measuring protons with no electricity but only magnetic steam *tuut*tuut*