Beyond Higgs: The Wild Frontier of Particle Physics

World Science Festival・2 minutes read

The text discusses the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Einstein's theory of relativity and the subsequent developments in particle physics, particularly focusing on the discovery and implications of the Higgs particle, supersymmetry, and future experiments with colliders. It emphasizes the significance of these discoveries in understanding the fundamental nature of matter and the universe, highlighting the excitement and challenges faced by scientists in unraveling these mysteries.

Insights

  • The confirmation of the Higgs particle in 2012 marked a significant moment in scientific understanding, aligning with theoretical predictions and prompting discussions on the future of particle physics exploration.
  • The Higgs field, crucial for understanding particle mass acquisition, suggests that empty space is filled with an invisible substance, impacting particles differently and explaining the origin of mass in the standard model of particle physics.
  • The potential cosmological implications of the Higgs particle involve a phase transition in the universe, raising questions about stability and the need for additional ingredients like supersymmetry, though the projected change is not an immediate concern.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • What is the Higgs particle?

    A hypothetical particle explaining mass in physics.

  • What is the Large Hadron Collider?

    A powerful tool for particle physics research.

  • What is supersymmetry in physics?

    A mechanism linking matter particles and force-carrying bosons.

  • What are the primary goals of new experiments in particle physics?

    To gain insights into the nature of the Higgs boson.

  • What are the potential cosmological implications of the Higgs particle?

    Implications on the universe's stability and future changes.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"Exploring Matter's Building Blocks Through History"

  • The festival celebrated the 100th anniversary of Einstein's general theory of relativity on May 29th, highlighting the importance of theoretical predictions inspiring experimental confirmation.
  • Einstein's theory was confirmed in just four years due to the confluence of mathematics and technology, a rare occurrence in physics where ideas often take longer to test.
  • The focus shifted from gravity and big things to particles, tracing back to ancient inquiries about the fundamental ingredients of matter.
  • The middle of the 20th century saw a surge in efforts to understand matter's basic components, with theorists and experimentalists collaborating closely.
  • The discovery of particles raised the question of their mass origin, leading to the proposal of the Higgs particle by Peter Higgs in the 1960s.
  • The Higgs particle was confirmed in 2012, aligning with theoretical predictions and marking a significant moment in scientific understanding.
  • The confirmation of the Higgs particle prompted discussions on what lies ahead in particle physics exploration.
  • Notable figures in particle physics, including Nima Carney Hamed, Monika Dunford, and Joel Icahn, were introduced for a discussion on matter's building blocks.
  • The journey of understanding matter's composition began with Democritus proposing atoms, leading to the discovery of molecules, atoms, and subatomic particles over centuries.
  • The Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland is a powerful tool for colliding protons at high energies to create new particles, emphasizing the role of energy in particle physics research.

16:25

"Particle Physics: Collisions, Bosons, and Higgs"

  • Collisions at 40 megahertz speed occur frequently, leading to data loss if not quickly identified within a microsecond.
  • Experimental decisions rely heavily on theory to guide trigger systems for data recording.
  • Fermilab conducts experiments, including Collider and cosmic ray experiments, contributing to the standard model of particle physics.
  • Fundamental particles like electrons, photons, muons, neutrinos, and quarks form the basis of matter.
  • Quarks, including up, down, strange, charm, bottom, and top quarks, constitute matter particles.
  • Bosons like photons, gluons, and W and Z particles carry fundamental forces, distinct from fermions.
  • Massless particles, like photons, can spin in two directions, while massive particles, like W and Z particles, have three spin directions.
  • The interaction of massless particles is limited by principles of relativity and quantum mechanics, allowing specific spin values.
  • The Higgs particle, with zero spin, was introduced to explain the origin of mass and the discrepancy in spin directions.
  • Peter Higgs proposed the Higgs particle in the 1960s to address the proliferation of particles discovered and the need to explain mass in the standard model of particle physics.

30:08

"Higgs Particle Discovery: Persistence and Collaboration"

  • Higgs postulated the existence of the Higgs particle, unique in his paper, suggesting its discoverability.
  • The Higgs field is crucial for understanding particle mass acquisition in this dimension, likened to cosmic molasses.
  • Higgs' original paper on the Higgs field was initially rejected for publication.
  • The Higgs field affects particles differently, with electrons interacting more than photons.
  • The concept suggests that empty space is not truly empty but filled with an invisible, tasteless substance.
  • Higgs persisted in promoting his idea even after its initial rejection, lecturing and discussing it widely.
  • The search for the Higgs particle involved intense collaboration and technical challenges.
  • The Higgs particle's decay into various components allowed for experimental confirmation.
  • Data collection for the Higgs discovery was meticulous, with blinding techniques to ensure accuracy.
  • The discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012 was faster than anticipated, leading to further exploration beyond the standard model of particle physics.

44:45

Unveiling the Higgs: Particle Physics Revolutionized

  • The Higgs is fundamental in transitioning from massive to massless particles through high-energy collisions.
  • Predicted for 50 years, the Higgs is a simple yet shocking addition needed for this transition.
  • Supersymmetry links matter particles to force-carrying bosons, predicting new particles.
  • Historical parallels exist between supersymmetry and the discovery of antimatter.
  • The Large Hadron Collider's construction cost billions, reflecting a unique time in particle physics.
  • The LHC's energy was crucial for probing particles, including those predicted by supersymmetry.
  • Expectations for discovering supersymmetry at the LHC were uncertain among physicists.
  • The Higgs' masslessness is crucial for explaining the mass of other elementary particles.
  • The Higgs' spin zero and lack of properties make its mass a mystery.
  • The Higgs' masslessness defies expectations based on similar phenomena in physics history.

58:38

Unveiling Supersymmetry: Exploring Higgs Boson's Nature

  • Supersymmetry is a mechanism that explains the mass of the Higgs boson, keeping it relatively small compared to other particles.
  • The Higgs boson's mass is crucial, with calculations indicating it can't exceed a certain amount, around 130 in specific units.
  • The discovery of the Higgs boson at 125 units suggested that supersymmetry might be correct, but further exploration is needed.
  • Supersymmetry was anticipated to bring about a new particle for every existing one, creating an era of discovery in experimental physics.
  • Building new machines, like a linear collider in Japan and a future circular collider at CERN, is essential for advancing particle physics.
  • A linear collider collides electrons and positrons, providing a cleaner environment for precision measurements compared to proton collisions.
  • The future circular collider at CERN, with a 100-kilometer ring, aims to reach energies up to 100 TeV for significant discoveries.
  • The motivation for higher energy colliders is to explore new phenomena and potentially uncover particles related to gravity at different scales.
  • The primary goal of new experiments is to gain fundamental insights into the Higgs boson's nature, determining if it is truly elementary or has substructure.
  • Future experiments will focus on examining the Higgs boson's point-like nature by studying its interactions with other particles, such as photons, to reveal any underlying substructure.

01:12:01

"Future Collider to Measure Higgs Interaction"

  • The Higgs particle has a unique interaction where it can interact with itself at a common point in space and time, unlike any other elementary particle.
  • The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) cannot definitively confirm this interaction, but the future 100 TeV Collider will produce billions of Higgs particles to measure this interaction with high accuracy.
  • The focus on the Higgs particle stems from the confusion among theorists regarding its properties, leading to the need for more experiments to understand it better.
  • The disappointment over not finding expected particles at the LHC is countered by the success in making precise measurements of the standard model and discovering the Higgs particle unexpectedly.
  • The Higgs particle's discovery challenges theorists more than finding expected particles like supersymmetry, shifting the focus towards understanding the standard model better.
  • The Higgs particle's potential cosmological implications involve a phase transition in the early universe, suggesting the universe's instability and the possibility of a future change.
  • The universe's potential instability could lead to a new phase where the Higgs field behaves differently, but this change is projected to occur billions of years in the future.
  • The theoretical calculation indicates that the universe might transition into a different state, creating a bubble that expands at the speed of light and could eventually reach and alter our universe.
  • The profound implications of the Higgs particle's behavior in cosmology raise questions about the universe's stability and the need for additional ingredients like supersymmetry to ensure stability.
  • The potential future scenario of the universe transitioning into a new phase, while scientifically intriguing, is not a cause for immediate concern as it is projected to occur far in the future.

01:26:28

"Excitement in Fundamental Physics: Higgs, Space, Time"

  • The speaker expresses excitement about the current state of fundamental physics, comparing it to the era of relativity and quantum mechanics. They highlight the significance of the Higgs discovery and the profound questions about space, time, and the universe that researchers are now tackling.
  • They emphasize the rarity of the opportunity to delve into deeply conceptual new understandings of the world, stressing the importance of being driven by fundamental questions and the responsibility of working on existential inquiries.
  • The discussion extends to the role of young scientists in national labs, focusing on their motivation to develop new technologies for scientific advancements, creating a cycle where big scientific challenges drive technological innovation, ultimately benefiting society.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.