The muon is a heavy cousin of the electron. Its magnetic moment is an intrinsic property that has been measured experimentally and computed using the Standard Model to high accuracy. But the experimental measurement and the computed value disagree by three standard deviations, which could indicate that a new theory is needed to explain the discrepancy.

This research project, along with new experiments at Fermilab in the U.S. and later at JPARC in Japan, will reduce uncertainties enough to settle the matter. The discovery of new physics would dramatically reshape our understanding of the universe.