The LHCb experiment at CERN has discovered a new particle.
The pentaquark has been theorised to exist for over 50 years, but experimental evidence has been elusive. They are subatomic particles which consist of five quarks, rather than the usual two or three.
In a new paper submitted to the arxiv, and currently under peer review, the LHCb collaboration report observations of these exotic structures. The experimental data shows two resonant states, which, according to the paper, can only be explained by new pentaquarks. The statistical evidence for these states goes beyond nine standard deviations – more than enough for the team to suggest a new discovery.
Want more nuclear and particle physics research? Visit iopscience.org/jphysg.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
Image credit: xlibber on flikr, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Unported License
Categories: Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics
Image of the week: Profiles of the matter density and electron fraction inside a massive neutron star 
Focus on peer review: Dr Christian Beck is JPhysG’s Reviewer of the Year 
2016 Impact Factors for the JPhys Series 
Image of the week: Evolution of beam collection by ISOLTRAP 