In the mysterious depths of particle physics, Majorana fermions hold a special place. These particles, unique in their kind, challenge classical understanding by being their own antiparticle — a characteristic that upends the traditional view of matter and antimatter. From the development of their theory by Ettore Majorana in the 1930s to recent experimental advances, … Read more
Magnetic monopoles are among the most fascinating enigmas of modern physics, captivating both astrophysicists and particle physics theorists. At the heart of contemporary cosmology, these hypothetical particles dissociate classical magnetic duality by postulating the existence of objects carrying a unique magnetic pole, as opposed to the familiar dipoles of conventional physics. Their discovery would transform … Read more
The violation of CP symmetry (charge-parity) remains one of the most fascinating and complex phenomena studied in modern cosmology. Since its discovery in the decays of K mesons in the 1960s, this anomaly challenges the fundamental equality between matter and antimatter in the primordial universe. While classical theories assumed a perfect balance between particles and … Read more
In the rapidly expanding field of high-energy physics, supersymmetry stands out as a revolutionary approach aimed at surpassing the limits of the standard model. This theory proposes that every fundamental particle, whether a fermion or a boson, has a supersymmetric partner whose spin differs by half a unit. Moreover, recent advancements in the detection of … Read more
IN BRIEF Cosmic rays: high-energy subatomic particles coming from space. Messengers of violent events in the universe. Composed mainly of protons and atomic nuclei. Create large showers of secondary particles upon their manifestation. Constantly bombard the Earth and impact our atmosphere. Represent one of the greatest dangers for astronauts in space exploration. Play a crucial … Read more
IN BRIEF Relativistic jets: ejections of matter at speeds close to that of light. Source: originating from accretion disks around black holes. Observation: monitoring a black hole for 15 years by an international team of astronomers. Power: the most powerful phenomena observed in astrophysics. Structure: jets maintain a narrow structure over vast distances. Rotation: the … Read more
IN BRIEF Neutrinos are nearly massless subatomic particles. They have no electric charge, making their identification complex. They act as messengers of cosmic phenomena. Neutrinos come from energetic events such as supernovae. They allow for a better understanding of astrophysical phenomena. These particles are more abundant than dark matter. Neutrino astronomy offers a complementary perspective … Read more
IN SHORT Existence of antimatter: minute quantities in the universe Particles and antiparticles: fundamental symmetry Issue of matter-antimatter imbalance after the Big Bang Absence of antimatter: one of the greatest mysteries of the universe Production of antimatter in the laboratory, notably at CERN Exorbitant cost of antimatter: precious and rare substance Properties of antimatter: transformation … Read more
IN SHORT Particle accelerators: essential devices for exploring nuclear physics and particle physics. CERN: home to the world’s largest circular accelerator. Used in various fields: fundamental research and science popularization. Current limitations: high cost, insufficient power, and fragility of existing accelerators. Past and ongoing experiments: exploration of elementary particles. Operation: acceleration of particle beams for … Read more
IN BRIEF 70 years of discoveries at CERN Discovery of W and Z bosons in 1983 Revolution in particle detection thanks to the multi-wire proportional chamber in 1968 Significant impact on the electroweak theory The Large Hadron Collider as a tool for fundamental exploration Advancements in particle physics and their societal applications Celebrations and new … Read more