A theoretical analysis by a RIKEN physicist and two colleagues recently suggests that lab experiments worldwide aimed at recreating the mysterious phase of matter from the early universe may also generate the strongest electromagnetic fields on Earth.
The Standard Model of particle physics suggests that when extremely hot matter is compressed into an ultradense object, it forms a plasma of quarks and gluons. However, experiments are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.
Despite the existence of such experiments, there are substantial theoretical uncertainties, especially at ultrahigh densities. Hence, experiments are greatly needed to study this extreme form of matter.
In new experiments, scientists first collided with heavy ions. They then examined the resultant plasma.
Hidetoshi Taya of the RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program had previously researched intense lasers and the solid electromagnetic fields they generate. He recognized that similar but significantly stronger fields could arise unexpectedly from collision experiments. This prospect is exciting for physicists, who believe these ultrastrong fields could lead to novel physical phenomena.
However, to date, physicists have not been able to generate fields strong enough to check this possibility.
Taya and his colleagues have conducted a theoretical analysis indicating that heavy-ion collisions at intermediate energies can produce ultra-strong electric fields that are both powerful and long-lived enough to explore strong-field physics, which is inaccessible through other experiments.
However, in upcoming collision experiments, physicists won’t be able to measure these fields directly; they will only be able to observe the particles produced and analyze their properties.
Taya said, “To really test our prediction, it’s crucial to understand how the strong electromagnetic fields affect the observable particles. We’re currently working on this.”
Journal Reference:
- Hidetoshi Taya et al., Estimation of the electric field in intermediate-energy heavy-ion collisions, Physical Review C (2024). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.110.014901
