An overview of the steps that lead to the discovery of the Higgs boson is presented. Starting with the theoretical background framework, the Standard Model of particel physics, the Higgs field will be introduced as an addition. This extra field provides the mechanism for spontaneous symmetry breaking, that is needed to explain the existence of massive particles. An overview of the steps of the experimental search to the discovery of the Higgs boson is given in the second part of this article. Its mass has been measured to be 125.4 ± 0.4(stat) ± 0.5(sys) GeV.
The Standard Model is briefly summarised. The Higgs mechanism is derived from an Abelian Model, applied to the gauge bosons of the electroweak model of Weinberg and Salam. A simple estimate of the Higgs mass is given by its derivation and the estimation of its self-coupling and vacuum expectation value.
Experimental results will be presented from the CMS and ATLAS detectors at the LHC, alongside with a description of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN and possible directions for future experiments beyond the Standard Model.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Standard Model of particle physics
- History of the Standard Model
- Theoretical description
- Physical interactions
- Models of the Higgs mechanism
- Abelian Higgs Model
- Weinberg-Salam Model
- The Higgs boson
- Mass of the Higgs boson
- Production and decay of the Higgs boson
- Experimental Search
- History of events
- The Large Hadron Collider LHC
- Experimental Data from ATLAS and CMS
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This article provides an overview of the steps leading to the discovery of the Higgs boson, focusing on both the theoretical framework and the experimental search. It delves into the Standard Model of particle physics and the Higgs mechanism as a key component, explaining how it allows for spontaneous symmetry breaking and explains the existence of massive particles.
- The Standard Model of particle physics as a foundation for understanding elementary particles and their interactions.
- The Higgs mechanism and its role in spontaneous symmetry breaking and the generation of particle masses.
- The theoretical predictions and experimental evidence for the existence of the Higgs boson.
- The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN as a key tool in the search for the Higgs boson.
- The experimental results from the ATLAS and CMS detectors at the LHC that led to the discovery of the Higgs boson.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter introduces the Standard Model of particle physics, outlining its historical development and theoretical description. It details the three fundamental forces described by the model (excluding gravity) and their associated force carriers: the photon, W and Z bosons, and gluons. It also highlights the importance of the Higgs boson in providing mass to the other particles.
Chapter two delves into the theoretical models of the Higgs mechanism. It explores the Abelian Higgs Model and its application to the U(1) gauge field, demonstrating how it gives mass to gauge bosons. Subsequently, it presents the Weinberg-Salam model, a SU(2) × U(1) gauge theory of electroweak interaction, and how it generates masses for the W±, Z0, and A bosons.
Chapter three focuses on the Higgs boson itself. It discusses the estimation of its mass, drawing from theoretical considerations and experimental data. It also details various production and decay modes of the Higgs boson, which are crucial for its experimental detection. The final section covers the experimental search for the Higgs boson, exploring its historical context and the role of the LHC at CERN in the discovery.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this text include the Standard Model of particle physics, Higgs boson, Higgs mechanism, spontaneous symmetry breaking, particle mass, gauge bosons, Large Hadron Collider (LHC), ATLAS and CMS detectors, experimental search, and theoretical predictions.
- Quote paper
- Siyuan Chen (Author), 2013, The theory and discovery of the Higgs boson, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/280663
