Acquisition of a High Field, Low Temperature Platform for Fundamental Measurements

Harvard University, Cambridge MA

Investigators

Abstract

This MRI award is for the development of a state-of-the-art high-field, low-temperature (HBLT) magnet that provides a high magnetic field at low temperature. This magnet infrastructure will allow a number of important of fundamental measurements of unprecedented accuracy: 1. the magnetic moment of the electron (often called its g value) 2. the fine structure constant alpha 3. the ratio of positron and electron g values, the best test of CPT invariance with baryons 4. the ratio of proton and electron masses 5. the magnetic moment of the antiproton These measurements test the most basic and fundamental laws of physics at the deepest level. The large number of fundamental measurements, the incredible accuracy, the elegance of the one particle techniques, and the technological spinoffs, compensate for the difficulty and time consuming nature of the experiments. Scores of undergraduates and dozens of graduate students have been involved in using similar research infrastructure in the past and this will continue. Experiments will be carried out as part of the advanced training of many graduate students and postdocs, and many participating undergraduates will get hands on experience with cutting edge science.