Northwestern researchers unveil positron cyclotron to test Standard Model prediction
Gerald Gabrielse and colleagues at Northwestern University in Illinois published new research on October 24, 2026, describing a device that traps a single positron to test CPT symmetry.
New method for trapping particles
Scientists have developed a quantum cyclotron capable of holding one positron. This antimatter particle is the electron counterpart with an opposite electric charge. The device allows researchers to measure its magnetic moment directly.
Comparison with existing data
Current measurements for electrons have achieved an accuracy of about one part in ten trillion. Positron comparisons remain several orders of magnitude less precise than their electron equivalents. Any difference found would suggest physics beyond the current Standard Model.
Testing fundamental symmetry principles
The experiment checks a principle called CPT symmetry which involves swapping particles for antiparticles. Flipping the universe into a mirror image and running time backward should leave laws unchanged. Observers would likely not notice such a swap if the symmetry holds true.
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