On systematic and GR effects on muon g − 2 experiments

Abstract We derive in full generality the equations that govern the time dependence of the energy ℰ of the decay electrons in a muon g − 2 experiment. We include both electromagnetic and gravitational effects and we estimate possible systematics on the measurements of a ≡ (g − 2)/2, whose experimental uncertainty will soon reach ∆a/a ≈ 10 −7. In addition to the standard modulation of ℰ when the motion is orthogonal to a constant magnetic field B, with angular frequency ω a = ea|B|/m, we study effects due to: (1) a non constant muon γ factor, in presence of electric fields E, (2) a correction due to a component of the muon velocity along B (the “pitch correction”), (3) corrections to the precession rate due to E fields, (4) non-trivial spacetime metrics. Oscillations along the radial and vertical directions of the muon lead to oscillations in ℰ with a relative size of order 10 −6, for the BNL g − 2 experiment. We then find a subleading effect in the “pitch” correction, leading to a frequency shift of ∆ω a /ω a ≈ O $$ \mathcal{O} $$ (10 −9) and subleading effects of about ∆ω a /ω a ≈ few × O $$ \mathcal{O} $$ (10 −8–10 −9) due to E fields. Finally we show that GR effects are dominated by the Coriolis force, due to the Earth rotation with angular frequency ω T , leading to a correction of about ∆ω a /ω a ≈ ω T /(γω a ) ≈ O $$ \mathcal{O} $$ (10 −12). A similar correction might be more appreciable for future electron g − 2 experiments, being of order ∆ω a /ω a , el ≈ ω T /(ω a , el) ≈ 7 × 10 −13, compared to the present experimental uncertainty, ∆a el /a el ≈ 10 −10, and forecasted to reach soon ∆a el /a el ≈ 10 −11.