B-sub-s meson

The B_s meson is a Meson noted for its ability to oscillate via a box-diagram between matter and antimatter with Δm_s=17.77 ±0.10 (stat) ±0.07 (syst) ps^{−1 [1]} (numbers from CDF at Fermilab). A first estimation of the lower and upper limit of this value have been found at the D0 experiment, also at Fermilab.^[2]

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On September 25, 2006, Fermilab announced that they had claimed discovery of previously-only-theorized B_s meson oscillation.^[3] According to Fermilab's press release:

This first major discovery of Run 2 continues the tradition of particle physics discoveries at Fermilab, where the bottom (1977) and top (1995) quarks were discovered. Surprisingly, the bizarre behavior of the B_s (pronounced "B sub s") mesons is actually predicted by the Standard Model of fundamental particles and forces. The discovery of this oscillatory behavior is thus another reinforcement of the Standard Model's durability. . . .
CDF physicists have previously measured the rate of the matter-antimatter transitions for the B_s meson, which consists of the heavy bottom quark bound by the strong nuclear interaction to a strange antiquark. Now they have achieved the standard for a discovery in the field of particle physics, where the probability for a false observation must be proven to be less than about 1 in 2 000 000. For CDF's result the probability is even smaller, at 1 in 12 500 000.

Ronald Kotulak, writing for the Chicago Tribune, called the particle "bizarre" and stated that the meson "may open the door to a new era of physics" with its proven interactions with the "spooky realm of antimatter".^[4]

References

1. ^ CDF Collaboration (2006). "Observation of Bs-Bsbar Oscillations" arxiv:hep-ex/0609040v1. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
2. ^ D0 Collaboration (14 July 2006). "Direct Limits on the B_s⁰ Oscillation Frequency". Physical Review Letters 97 (021807). Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
3. ^ Fermilab (September 25, 2006). "It might be…It could be…It is!!!". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
4. ^ Ronald Kotulak. "Antimatter discovery could alter physics: Particle tracked between real world, spooky realm", Deseret Morning News, Sept. 26, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.