A new study has for the first time, observed the decay of particles known as Bs mesons. The research, which took place at the Large Hadron Collider, is looking to examine why certain particles wind up as matter or antimatter.
Scientists are very curious as to why there the universe is more inclined towards matter over antimatter. Every particle that we have discovered has an antimatter version that is identical in mass, but opposite in electrical charge. According to the current theory of the beginning of the universe, equal amounts of matter and antimatter were created. However, whenever the two meet, they destroy each other, which means that the universe should have ended as soon as it began.
Researchers are seeking to learn why there was an excess of matter that lead to a universe comprised mostly of it, as opposed to an antimatter dominated one, or none at all. Scientists are now looking into Large Hadron Collider experiments where protons are violently smashed together. They are starting to see hints of excess matter being created, called CP violation.
In this latest batch of research, the team at the Large Hadron Collider are tracking how a certain type of particle, the Bs mesons, decayed further into either matter or antimatter versions of another particle called kaons.
"If one decays more often to this final state... than the other one, then it shows a fundamental difference between matter and antimatter," said Chris Parkes of the University of Manchester, spokesperson for the UK contingent of the LHCb collaboration.
It's still not enough information though to resolve the imbalance between matter and antimatter.
"However, the amount that we see is still compatible with the amount inside the Standard Model picture of particle physics, and this amount is just simply too small to explain why we're all here, and why everything is still made of matter - so the puzzle still continues," Parkes continued.
However, he still feels it's a big step forward.
"The last thing people want is long lists of particle names - one's got to relate it to the bigger picture, and I think today is sort of a milestone in that picture - it's the first time that we've seen anything in Bs mesons," he concluded.
The results were published online, and submitted to Physical Review letters.