Why Is The Subject Of The Higgs boson Matters

Some of the most talented scientists in the world, announced Tuesday that they approach the real discovery of a new particle: the Higgs boson. Unfortunately, for much of the world, the question is, why it is important that far from being answered.

In the business world also have high-tech companies, such uncertainty does not. Fancy yourself as a success story of Apple, had "strong evidence" of the next iPhone? But we are talking about particle physics, where a breakthrough could until the end of our understanding of reality. Scientists must be careful to get into another  of cold fusion fiasco- where they make grandiose claims, then exposed embarrassing.

Well, the news Tuesday sounds a little faded. The two main experiments underway at the Large Hadron Collider, ATLAS and CMS, both independently, there was evidence of a new particle in the range of expected mass of the Higgs boson. There were clear signs of the Higgs of 124 GeV and 126 (giga electron volt) - right where it belongs, but not so strong that they are written as a statistical fluke.

"Today we learned a great deal of new information," said Pierluigi Catastini, researcher at the ATLAS experiment, Mashable. "We have learned that the most likely window for the Higgs boson, with respect to the Higgs mass is very close. But it is too early to talk of discovery."

CERN scientists have been very measured in his words. Fabiola Gianotti, ATLAS spokesperson, said the results "can be a variation," Guido Tonelli, CMS said that while the data indicate that the Higgs boson, which was inconclusive. CERN Director General Rolf-Dieter Heuer, told the BBC: "We need a more solid number."

Science websites, however, were more daring. Says popular physics blog not Even Wrong: "This is what one would expect if there is a Higgs of 125 GeV, very unlikely that if no Higgs." Writing for science 2.0, Tommaso Dorigo was to say that so far, "strong evidence of the Higgs boson at last!"

So we're on the right path to find the Higgs boson. But who cares? What this means something unimaginably small to have this "God particle", which deal with the real world?

In a word: everything. The Higgs boson is the standard model, which provides a kind of manual for modern physics. If the Higgs boson exists, then the standard model is correct, and physics as we know it lives to see another day. If no Higgs, the model is obviously incomplete, and the new physics are needed.

Many of the physical adventurers really prefer that no Higgs boson, because it would open entirely new fields of research. "If we do not see [him], it would be an incredible experience to be, because then the standard model does not work," says Catastini. "If we do find the Higgs boson, then we will complete the most important piece."

Besides giving physicists a reason to feel good, the Higgs boson we track existence, how particles acquire their mass. It is believed that all reality is found in abundance in the so-called Higgs field, and as the particles move through them, take them to land. There is no evidence, but an inevitable consequence of the theory is the Higgs boson.

So if we find the Higgs boson, science is at once:

- Essentially, complete and confirm the Standard Model of particle physics.
- Demonstrate how particles acquire their mass.
- To establish the Higgs field on a solid foundation for future research.

Higgs boson will confirm what scientists agree can probably happen late next year, there will be great - though, like to move scientific discoveries, is not so big, it's a milestone, as confirmation of relativity theory of Einstein. But how relativity theory of the classical conventions of composition on the physics governing the existence of Higgs theories and some of us are in the direction of how the universe really works.

In a way, the Higgs boson has the opposite meaning of the theory of relativity. A consequence of Einstein's theory was that there was need for an "ether" that the fabric of the cosmos imagine penetrating. However, the "God particle" confirms the ether is alive and well, and is called the Higgs field.

Thus, the Higgs boson at the end of May shows that the universe is more connected than ever thought Einstein.

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Eagerly Awaiting The New Physical Data "God Particle"

Lunch near the largest manhunt in the history of physics. At 8 o'clock, Eastern time on Tuesday morning, scientists at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, will give a report on the search for the Higgs boson - dubbed the "God particle" called - whose discovery would be the modern theory of justification, how to get the mass of elementary particles. The report comes amid rumors that the two rival armies of scientists sift through the rubble of hundreds of billions of proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider, or LHC, on the outskirts of Geneva, the two finally see hints of what could be the elusive particles, when more data is collected in the next year. Moreover, researchers say, that in one year must have sufficient data to exclude the existence of the most popular version of the Higgs boson, sending theorists back to their tables to find another explanation of why  particles have mass.

Be monitored worldwide.

Among them is Lisa Randall, a theorist at Harvard and author, the God particles of the new book "Knocking on Heaven's Door:. How physics and the universe and scientific thought today's world of light" in an interview with Dennis Overbye of The Times, Dr. Randall provided this guide to action for those of us in the stands.

Question: What is the Higgs boson, and why is it important?

Higgs A. The name refers to at least four things. First, there is a Higgs mechanism, the ultimate responsibility of the masses of elementary particles "This is without doubt one of the most difficult aspects of particle physics is to explain, but basically something like an electric charge no charge -. - fills the vacuum state without particles.

These "rights" associated with a Higgs field. As the particles pass through this field, interacting with the "fees" and this interaction makes them act as if they have mass. Heavier particles, but not particles smaller and lighter. The Higgs mechanism is crucial for the masses of elementary particles.

The Higgs God particle or Higgs boson is the remnant of the proposed simple model which created the Higgs field in the first place. Contrary to popular understanding, the Higgs field gives mass - not the Higgs boson. However, a discovery of the Higgs boson would tell us that the Higgs mechanism is the right thing and help us realize that the theory behind both the Higgs mechanism and the standard model.

In the simplest version of the Higgs mechanism, the experimental result, the Higgs boson. Is the particle that experimenters are looking for.

Higgs is, of course, also the name of the person, Peter Higgs, who first developed the underlying theory (along with five others who are in the running for the Nobel Prize, as long as the Higgs particle is discovered.)

Q: How do we know when we find them?

A. In the simplest version of the Higgs mechanism, we know exactly what is due to the properties of the Higgs boson. This is due to its relationship with the Higgs mechanism, which tells us that through their interactions with a given particle, the God particle mass is determined, in particular.

Knowledge of the interactions, we can calculate the frequency with the Higgs boson will be produced and how it should disintegrate. It can decay only those particles that are light enough to be preserved for energy. Overall, the Higgs boson decays into the heaviest of these particles more often, because it interacts with them the most.

We do not know, however, the mass of the Higgs boson. The Higgs boson decays differently, depending on its mass, since a heavy Higgs boson in a way that is not a light Higgs boson can decay. Therefore, if the researcher of the Higgs boson search, find and use over a range of masses and a variety of search strategies.

Question: What do we know you know so much?

A. experimenters have already mastered a variety of masses. The Higgs boson, if any, must be heavier than 114.4 giga-electron volts (GeV), which are using the units of mass of the particle physicists. In comparison, protons are the foundation of ordinary matter, about 1 giga electron volts, and an electron is only half a million electron-volts.

Based on past searches by the LHC, the Higgs boson, and between about 140 GeV and 500 GeV is excluded. Be the most likely causes of the Higgs mass between about 115 and 140 GeV, which should focus on the field Tuesday's results, although, in principle, the heavier Higgs boson mass is also in dispute.

I do not want to crush the hopes, but not on Tuesday to leave the result as final. This is the toughest mass range for the LHC and the test is difficult for this area. I suspect that there is insufficient evidence to exclude the Higgs boson, but very little to pin entirely possible, without the data in the next year.

P. What difference does it make to its mass?

R. In fact, so that the matter go to the properties is not really a big difference. As long as the Higgs mechanism exists, it is elementary that the masses know they do.

But nobody thinks that the Higgs boson, the last word on what underlies the standard model of God particle physics, the theory is that the basic building blocks of matter and the forces that interact with the description of them. Even if the Higgs boson is discovered, the question remains as to why the masses are what they are and will remain so.

According to quantum field theory - the theory of quantum mechanics and special relativity together - expect crowds than ten thousand trillion times larger. No one ingredient, a fudge of this size would be needed to ensure that all hang together. Do not believe that particle physicists, dass

We all expect a richer theory underlying the Standard Model. That's one reason people are important to us. Some theories only place for a certain range of masses. Knowledge of communication gives us an idea of ​​the underlying theory.

Q: Is the L.H.C. a failure, if not find the Higgs boson?

A. The great irony is that by not finding a Higgs boson would be spectacular from the perspective of God particle physics and pointed to something more interesting than the simple model Higgs. Future research may show that the separate particles in the role of Higgs interactions we have learned to be there for the particles acquire mass.

The other possibility is that the answer is no, is that single particles are fundamental, looking at the Large Hadron Collider today. You could find a more complicated object or part of a complex sector, which would take more time.

P. Does this have anything to do with neutrinos - especially those who have recently traveled faster than light, as they appear on a journey that had arisen in the CERN?

A. neutrinos have a tiny mass. The Higgs mechanism is probably responsible for the well. Just anything that goes faster than light (which is probably not) promotes.

P. made in 1993, the U.S. Congress a large collider of America, the Superconducting Supercollider, which would have been greater than the machine at CERN. He had found the Higgs boson years?

R. Yes, if things had gone according to plan. And it would be able to do things that were not have simple Higgs boson, too. The L.H.C. can be searched as well, but with lower energy of the work is demanding and requires more time.

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How The "God Particle" Got Its Name

We expect interesting news in the world of physics in the next few minutes. Are researchers at the Large Hadron Collider, to make an announcement at 1 pm GMT. We know that there is no "discovery" of the Higgs boson by itself - ". Five sigma result," the conventional threshold for discovery is five standard deviations, called This means that there are only about a one in a million chances that their results are the consequence of a statistical fluke. However, rumors have been flying around the blogs over a three-sigma result, or one chance in an error-mil a result of Higgs has been discovered somewhere around 125GeV brand. (For more information a bit more on what is a 125GeV Higgs, check out my post a few weeks ago).

We know that is likely to be very rewarding, because, as Ian Sample The Guardian wrote last week, the heads of the two working groups of the call will not be any graduate student or postdoctoral junior.

But the real question is: Why is it called the God particle? It is not the God particle. It has nothing to do with God, religion, nothing to do with creation. Or at least no more than any other particle.

The name was Leon Lederman, a Nobel laureate in physics, for the title of a book ("If the Universe Is the Answer, What is the question that the God particle") is created. But it was not what I wanted to call it. At first wanted to call the particle "Damn," because (according to Marcelo Gleiser Lederman postdoctoral single) "could not find the thing." But his publisher convinced him of "the God particle more copies' would sell. We do not know if it's true, but what is certain is the name stuck.

Physicists in general, I wish they were not. Peter Higgs of Edinburgh University physicist, for the first time the existence of bosons, does not like the name: "I find it shameful, because although I do not believe, I think it's the kind of abuse of terminology, which I think that offend some people could, "he told The Guardian last three years.

More than that, it is a mistake. When the LHC, the fire began two years ago prepared a lot of people paranoid theories doomsday terrible about the way that could create a black hole and destroy the earth to create. A large part of the terrorists seemed to come from the partnership with God Particle, and therefore Armageddon.

On the positive side, it is a triumph of public relations. If the particles were press offices, which use it as a case study of how to use public awareness about how many people have to say as the Higgs boson, which a gluon, a W boson or heard? Presumably, the charm quark is yes sorry for not Satan called The Blob or something in the 1960's.

However, we can all get used to it. For better or for worse, the name seems to be with us forever.

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