Apr 20, 2026
Breakthrough Prize 2026 for the Muon g-2 Collaboration - physicists from TU Dresden involved
The international Muon g-2 Collaboration has been awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics 2026. Dominik Stöckinger from the Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics at TU Dresden is one of the prizewinners. He has been a member of the Fermilab collaboration since 2011.
The prize recognizes the collaborations that conducted three consecutive experiments at the three research centers CERN, Brookhaven National Laboratory and Fermilab "for decades of pioneering contributions to the measurement of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, which have pushed the boundaries of experimental precision and ushered in a new era in the search for physics beyond the Standard Model".
The work of the Muon g-2 Collaboration is one of the most precise tests of the Standard Model of particle physics. The measurement campaign was successfully completed and even achieved a lower uncertainty than originally planned. This provides a crucial basis for the search for new physics. In particular, Dominik Stöckinger was responsible for the theoretical groundwork and preparatory tasks within the collaboration. This included contributions to the planning and application of the experiment as well as the interpretation of the measurement results. A significant part of his research activity as Chair of Phenomenology of Elementary Particles at TU Dresden is dedicated to this field.
The award of the Breakthrough Prize, one of the world's most highly endowed science prizes, underlines the outstanding importance of international cooperation and precision physics for the understanding of fundamental laws of nature.
Further information on the prize: https://breakthroughprize.org/Laureates/1/L4025
Video on Dominik Stöckinger´s research (1.4.2021)
Interview on Welt der Physik (3.1.2022)
TUD news article (10.8.2023)
Publication of the final measurement result for the muon’s g-2: https://inspirehep.net/literature/2928642
Publications by the Dresden research group on the theoretical interpretation: https://inspirehep.net/literature/2946047 , https://inspirehep.net/literature/1856811