Studies of fundamental constants, interactions and symmetries via low-energy, high-precision muon experiments

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。该项目的重点是研究标准模型的基本常数，基本相互作用和基本对称性。 拟议的研究是基于低能量μ子束的精密实验，包括保罗谢勒研究所MuLan/MuCap实验的继续工作，保罗谢勒研究所MuSun实验的新工作，以及费米实验室μ子异常磁矩的新测量的研发工作。 穆兰将以百万分之一的精度确定弱相互作用的费米常数，从而允许更精确的弱相互作用计算和改进的标准模型测试。 MuCap将确定所谓的质子弱力的诱导赝标量耦合常数，从而测试强相互作用中自发对称性破缺的性质。 MuSun实验将研究μ子和氘核之间的基本弱核相互作用，从而加深我们对太阳热核聚变的理解。 最后，对μ子反常磁矩的新测量将对标准模型之外的物理学进行重要的检验。 该研究包括几个具有广泛影响的领域。 PI将继续参与高中生，物理专业学生和物理研究生的研究活动。 此外，PI将继续在本科生招聘，研究生招聘和社区推广他的努力。 我们在高速数据采集和大容量数据分析方面的活动将使我们的学生接触到现代计算的许多方面。 最后，我们对基本常数，相互作用和对称性的研究将在核，粒子和天体物理学中产生广泛的影响。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This project is focused on investigations of the fundamental constants, elementary interactions and basic symmetries of the Standard Model. The proposed research is based on precision experiments with low-energy muon beams and includes continuing work on the MuLan/MuCap experiments at Paul Scherrer Institute, new work on the MuSun experiment at Paul Scherrer Institute, and R&D work for a new measurement of the muon anomalous magnetic moment at Fermilab. MuLan will determine to part-per-million precision the Fermi Constant of weak interactions, thus permitting more accurate weak interaction calculations and improved Standard Model tests. MuCap will determine the so-called induced pseudoscalar coupling constant of the proton's weak force, thereby testing the nature of spontaneously symmetry breaking in strong interactions. The MuSun experiment will study the elementary weak nuclear interaction between muons and deuterons, thereby furthering our understanding of thermonuclear fusion in the sun. Finally, a new measurement of the muon's anomalous magnetic moment will render an important test of physics beyond the Standard Model. The research includes several areas of broader impact. The PI will continue his involvement of high school students, physics majors and physics graduate students in research activities. Additionally, the PI will continue his efforts in undergraduate recruiting, graduate recruiting and community outreach. Our activities in high-speed data acquisition and high-volume data analysis will expose our students to many aspects of modern computing. Finally, our studies of fundamental constants, interactions and symmetries will have broad impact in nuclear, particle and astrophysics.