Virtual forms of these particles could arise from the muons and explain the Brookhaven findings. Gordon L. Kane of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and his colleagues have used the new results to calculate maximum masses for supersymmetric particles and have found some to be comparable to the masses of known particles. The size of the discrepancy in the Brookhaven experiments suggests that any new influence that may have shown itself has a mass similar to the masses of already known particles, he says. Supersymmetry, however, is only one possible explanation for the discrepancy, Hughes cautions. In another, the muon may be composed of smaller subunits rather than being a fundamental particle, as now believed.
Physicists announce possible violation of standard model of particle physics.
Brookhaven National Laboratory press release. Beyond the top. From Science News , Vol. All rights reserved. Subscribe to Science News .