GOD PARTICLE

The man, after whom the particle is named, Peter Higgs, died recently at aged 94. An elementary particle like electrons, quarks, photons or neutrinos, the Higgs boson, is known to impart mass to every other particle. Its existence was predicted in the 1960s, but it was found only in 2012 through elaborate experiments carried out at the Large Hadron Collider, located on the border of France and Switzerland.

2. About Higgs boson

• The Higgs boson is a subatomic particle that plays a crucial role in the fundamental theory of particle physics known as the Standard Model. It was first theorised in the 1960s by several physicists, including Peter Higgs, and its existence was confirmed in experiments conducted at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in 2012.
• According to the Standard Model, particles acquire their mass by interacting with a field called the Higgs field, which permeates the universe. The Higgs boson is the quantum excitation of this field. Its discovery was significant because it provided experimental evidence for the existence of the Higgs field and helped to complete the Standard Model of particle physics.
• The Higgs boson has a very short lifespan and quickly decays into other particles after being produced in high-energy collisions. Its discovery has opened up new avenues for research in particle physics and has provided insights into the origin of mass and the fundamental forces that govern the universe.

3. Large Hadron Collider

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator. Located at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) near Geneva, Switzerland, it spans a circumference of approximately 27 kilometres (17 miles) underground.

The primary purpose of the LHC is to accelerate particles, typically protons, to nearly the speed of light and then collide them together. These collisions recreate conditions similar to those just after the Big Bang, allowing scientists to study fundamental particles and the forces that govern them.

Key components of the LHC include

• Accelerator Rings: The LHC consists of two main accelerator rings, each carrying beams of protons in opposite directions. These beams are accelerated using powerful superconducting magnets to achieve extremely high energies.
• Detectors: The LHC is equipped with several large detectors placed at various points along its circumference. These detectors, such as ATLAS and CMS, are designed to capture and analyse the particles produced by collisions. They provide valuable data for understanding the fundamental properties of particles and the laws of physics.
• Experiments: The collisions generated by the LHC allow scientists to conduct a wide range of experiments to explore fundamental questions in particle physics. These experiments include studying the properties of known particles, searching for new particles such as the Higgs boson, and investigating phenomena such as dark matter and antimatter.
• International Collaboration: The LHC is a testament to international collaboration, with thousands of scientists and engineers from around the world working together to design, build, and operate the accelerator and its experiments. This collaboration fosters the exchange of ideas and expertise, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.

4. Concepts of Higgs field and Higgs particle

The concepts of the Higgs field and the Higgs particle are fundamental to the Standard Model of particle physics and play a crucial role in explaining the origin of mass in the universe.

Higgs Field

• The Higgs field is a theoretical field that permeates all of space. According to the Standard Model, it is through interactions with this field that particles acquire mass.
• Unlike other fundamental fields, which have a zero value in their lowest energy state (vacuum), the Higgs field has a non-zero value. This means that particles passing through the Higgs field experience resistance, akin to moving through a viscous medium, which gives them mass.
• The Higgs field is hypothesised to have been created shortly after the Big Bang during a phase transition, filling the universe with the Higgs field and endowing particles with mass.

Higgs Particle (Higgs Boson)

• The Higgs particle, also known as the Higgs boson, is the quantum excitation of the Higgs field. It is an elementary particle predicted by the Standard Model.
• The Higgs boson is unique in that it is associated with the mechanism by which particles acquire mass. Its discovery was announced in 2012 by experiments conducted at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN.
• The Higgs boson has a very short lifespan and quickly decays into other particles after being produced in high-energy collisions. Its detection provided experimental confirmation of the Higgs mechanism and completed the Standard Model of particle physics.

5. What is God’s particle?

• The term "God particle" is a popular nickname for the Higgs boson, a fundamental particle in particle physics. The term was coined by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Leon Lederman in his 1993 book "The God Particle: If the Universe is the Answer, What is the Question?"
• The nickname "God particle" was not meant to imply any religious connotations but rather to convey the elusive and fundamental nature of the Higgs boson. Lederman reportedly wanted to call it the "Goddamn Particle" because of its elusive nature, but his publisher objected, and the term "God particle" was used instead.
• The Higgs boson, or the "God particle," plays a crucial role in the Standard Model of particle physics by endowing other particles with mass through its interactions with the Higgs field. Its discovery was announced in 2012 by experiments conducted at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, providing experimental confirmation of its existence and completing the Standard Model.
• Despite its nickname, the term "God particle" is not used by scientists in the field of particle physics, as it can be misleading and does not accurately reflect the scientific significance of the Higgs boson. Instead, scientists refer to it simply as the Higgs boson.

6. The Way Forward

The legacy of Peter Higgs and the discovery of the Higgs boson serve as catalysts for ongoing exploration and innovation in particle physics. By building upon these foundations and embracing collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches, the scientific community can continue to unravel the mysteries of the universe and inspire generations to come.

Source: The Indian Express