Higgs Boson Particle Discovered!

[freyar]

Two of the major detector experiments (ATLAS and CMS) at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN held a joint seminar today to announce their most recent results in the search for the last undiscovered particle of the Standard Model of particle physics, the Higgs boson. (As I write, the seminar is just concluding.) Both experiments have independently found what's known as a "5 sigma" detection of a new particle with a mass around 126 GeV (or about 135 times the mass of the proton). This is considered the gold standard in particle physics for claiming discovery of a new particle. In addition, these initial results are compatible with expectations from the simplest Standard Model Higgs boson; future work will determine if a somewhat more complicated model involving some new type of particle physics is necessary (there are possible hints at some more complicated behavior --- whether you believe them is at the moment a matter of taste). I should also note that these experiments are massive international efforts, and these results are really a global accomplishment.

You can read the official CERN press release, and I also recommend science blogs Quantum Diaries, Cosmic Variance, and Of Particular Significance for impressions of the seminars and (in the future) more discussion of the results (as well as other physics).

As it's now nearly 4AM for me, I'm heading to sleep, but questions are welcome! As a theoretical particle physicist, I'm excited, impressed, and hopeful that something not quite expected will show up in the future results.

 

[Umbran]

For those with less statistical knowledge...

"5 sigma" essentially means "5 standard deviations out from random behavior". It translates to "there's only a chance of 1 in 3.5 million that this was produced by random chance".

In one sense, their result is not surprising - the Standard Model has been very good, and it predicted such a particle.

And, I find it a fine thing that Peter Higgs is still alive to see his model born out. He's been waiting for 50+ years. That's gotta feel awesome.

 

[Morrus]

I've ordered mine already. I'm going to call it George.

My question is this: do you think I should get it a hat? Otherwise it'll be a devil to find should I drop it.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Ehhh...they were just looking in the wrong places all this time- there's a guy at the bodega been sellin' 'em for YEARS, $20 each or 3/$50!








Or should I just say, "COOOOOL!"

 

[Umbran]

Ehhh...they were just looking in the wrong places all this time- there's a guy at the bodega been sellin' 'em for YEARS, $20 each or 3/$50!

Physicists are not hip enough to shop at a "bodega".

 

[El Mahdi]

So this is supposed to help unlock the mystery of "mass"...

Does that mean the Higgs Boson will help me lose weight?

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

So this is supposed to help unlock the mystery of "mass"...

Does that mean the Higgs Boson will help me lose weight?

I am actually not sure about it. It may still be that the Higgs Boson is innocent here, and you can only blame Gravitons. Or your eating habits.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Hmm...maybe the particle accelerators will become the tanning beds of the future: step into the stream, they knock a few billion bosons off your ass- you shed weight while getting a killer tan.

 

[Scott DeWar]

Hmm...maybe the particle accelerators will become the tanning beds of the future: step into the stream, they knock a few billion bosons off your ass- you shed weight while getting a killer tan.

strange emphasis on the word killer ther, leaves me more then a bit worried . . . . .

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

I am actually not sure about it. It may still be that the Higgs Boson is innocent here, and you can only blame Gravitons. Or your eating habits.

Yes. I always steer clear of gravitons. They look so delicious among the other appetizers at all posh parties I frequent, but I know they just go straight to my hips.


This is exciting news! Congrats to the groups that have confirmed Higgs, and to all the other folks whose work led up to this.