On the bright morning of April 19, 2026, Suvarna Ramachandran, a physicist from Kottayam, received an unexpected call from her husband, Jimin George. He excitedly shared an email announcing their win of the Breakthrough Prize, often likened to the “Oscars of Science.” They were speechless for a half-hour, soaking in the incredible news before sharing it with their families.
Suvarna expressed her deep gratitude for everyone who helped her along the way—friends, classmates, and especially her teachers at Baker Vidyapeedh and CMS College. Jimin appreciated his mentors at Mahatma Gandhi College.
Winning the prize felt unreal to Suvarna. It affirmed her belief that she was on the right path in exploring the mysterious muon, a subatomic particle crucial in understanding the universe.
The search to measure the muon’s magnetic moment has spanned decades. Initial experiments began in the 1960s at CERN, leading to refined studies in the late 90s at Brookhaven National Laboratory. But the game changer was the Fermilab experiment from 2018 to 2023, where Suvarna and Jimin were part of a team of about 300 scientists. Their work led to a groundbreaking measurement that earned them a $3 million (₹28 crore) prize.
“The excitement comes from our precise measurements, which exceeded expectations,” Suvarna told Onmanorama. Originally from Thirunakkara, she has deep roots in the local educational scene. After earning her undergraduate degree from CMS College, she completed her master’s at the University of Hyderabad and a PhD at the University of Kentucky.
The critical outcome of their experiment shows how the muon behaves in a magnetic field, accounting for quantum effects from known and potentially unknown particles. The reported deviation from theoretical values is a significant indicator of possible new physics.
Jimin elaborated on how measurements were taken: as muons orbit, they decay into positrons, which are detected around the experimental ring. The detection process involved particle detectors called calorimeters. This meticulous process allowed them to calculate the muon’s anomalous magnetic moment.
The team operated from a solid control room, surrounded by thick concrete to shield from radiation generated by high-energy particles. Working as postdoctoral researchers at Fermilab until 2020, Suvarna and Jimin were integral in building the experiment and analyzing the vast data collected.
“Data extraction took years,” Jimin said. The final results were published on June 3, 2025, but the theorists still have more work to do before all is settled.
Suvarna’s fascination with atomic physics stems from her desire to understand the universe. “In particle physics, precise predictions can guide experiments that reveal fundamental truths,” she explained. She whimsically noted that while we can’t travel back to the universe’s early days, studying these particles offers us invaluable insights.
Understanding these tiny particles isn’t straightforward. A muon, if scaled against an atom the size of a football field, still wouldn’t be visible—showing just how abstract atomic physics can be.
Suvarna emphasizes the importance of improving educational exposure to make science exciting for students. By linking abstract concepts to real experiments, schools can ignite curiosity. Hands-on activities and engaging teaching methods can change how young minds think about science.
In light of this, both Suvarna and Jimin stress the need for better facilities for particle physics in India. While India contributes to global projects like those at CERN, enhanced local infrastructure would allow for independent research and would nurture the next generation of scientists.
Jimin reflected on their decision to move to the U.S. for more advanced experimental facilities. While Indian institutions like IISc and IITs excel in theoretical work, they lag in experimental setups.
“Our interest in particle physics developed while studying in India,” he shared, noting the specialized courses they took during their master’s program at the University of Hyderabad, which laid a strong foundation for their careers.
Today, Suvarna and Jimin are not only pushing the boundaries of physics but also educating future scientists as Assistant Professors at Alliance University in Bengaluru. Their journey serves as an inspiring example of perseverance, innovation, and the sheer joy of discovery in the field of science.
With ongoing research and discoveries in particle physics, the road ahead holds exciting potential for deeper understanding of the universe. For more on groundbreaking scientific research, you can explore resources at CERN.
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