During the seminar this morning, it was announced that “A new boson has been found, possibly the Higgs”.
This is the news that physicists around the world have been waiting for: The first tantalising glimpse of the now famous elusive boson.
If it seems like the celebrating doesn’t quite satisfy the years of experimenting in attempts to find this particle, that’s simply because noone wants to jump to conclusions just yet…
The find was at a significance level of 5 when two datasets were combined, but 4.9 when all of the data was put together. The higher the significance level- the more likely the discovery. (and the more leeway we have to start the street parties).
Hopefully when we have more results and more hindsight, the significance level will increase and the discovery will be confirmed.
What does it mean? Why is it so useful that the particle has been found? Modem science starts with theories. The theories become confirmed when experimental evidence backs them up. It’s a long way since the old days when it was the other way round- perform an experiment then theorise how it works.
The Higgs boson lies at the heart of the Standard Model- Our most up to date theory of the universe. Physically finding the particle was therefore imperative to ensure the theory was consistent with reality!
Also, further analysing the data and progressing with the experiments at the LHC will provide a deeper understanding on the behaviour of the particle- and our universe with it.
According to the Standard Model, The Higgs boson, (or Scalar boson technically, as it follows no particular direction in a magnetic field) makes up the “Higgs Field” which permeates the universe. Particles moving through this field interact with the bosons, giving them the properly of mass. This is like trying to walk in a swimming pool, pushing against the water molecules slows you down. As molecules move faster, they become heavier as they interact with more bosons. Ergo- they get heavier. This prevents massive particles from ever reaching the speed of light. Their mass will tend to infinity as they reach the speed of light- such that it requires an infinite amount of energy to accelerate them to that speed.
The reason photons can reach that speed is that they pass through the Higgs field without interacting.
Fantastic news then, if the particle really has been observed for the first time in human history!
Professor Higgs was delighted, announcing his surprise at the discovery being made during his lifetime.
Professor Steven Hawking lost a bet.
If confirmed, it will be by far the most exciting news in the scientific community of the past few years.
Musings of a Scientist 