On systematic and GR effects on muon $g-2$ experiments

We derive in full generality the equations that govern the time dependence of the energy $\mathcal{E}$ 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 $g-2\equiv 2(1+a)$, whose experimental uncertainty will soon reach $\mathrm{\Delta }a\mathrm{/}a\approx {10}^{-7}$. In addition to the standard modulation of $\mathcal{E}$ when the motion is orthogonal to a constant magnetic field $B$, with angular frequency ${\omega }_a=ea\mathrm{\mid }B\mathrm{\mid }\mathrm{/}m$, we study effects due to: (1) a non constant muon $\gamma$ 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 ${\mathcal E}$ 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 $\mathrm{\Delta }{\omega }_a\mathrm{/}{\omega }_a\approx \mathcal{O}({10}^{-9})$ and subleading effects of about $\Delta \omega_a/\omega_a \approx {\rm few} \times {\cal O}(10^{-8}-10^{-9})$dueto$E$ fields. Finally we show that GR effects are dominated by the Coriolis force, due to the Earth rotation with angular frequency ${\omega }_T$, leading to a correction of about $\Delta \omega_a/\omega_a \approx \omega_T/(\gamma \omega_a) \approx {\cal O}(10^{-12})$. A similar correction might be more appreciable for future electron $g-2$ experiments, being of order $\Delta \omega_a/\omega_{a, {\rm el}} \approx \omega_T/(\omega_{a, {\rm el}}) \approx 7\times 10^{-13}$, compared to the present experimental uncertainty, $\Delta a_{\rm el}/a_{\rm el}\approx 10^{-10}$,andforecastedtoreachsoon$\Delta a_{\rm el}/a_{\rm el}\approx 10^{-11}$.