Explore & Learn

Sreeshan · 2024-01-29T12:28:58.984Z

What it is: • An elementary particle in the Standard Model of particle physics. • Associated with the Higgs field, which permeates all of space. • Plays a crucial role in giving mass to other fundamental particles. How it works: • Imagine particles moving through molasses – the molasses represents the Higgs field. • Some particles interact more strongly with the field, making them "stickier" and therefore more massive. • Others interact less, staying relatively light. • The Higgs boson itself is a ripple in the Higgs field. Discovery and Significance: • Predicted in the 1960s but only confirmed in 2012 at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. • This discovery was a breakthrough, validating the Standard Model and our understanding of mass. • However, there's still much to learn about the Higgs boson and its potential connection to new physics beyond the Standard Model. Key points to remember: • The Higgs boson is not itself the source of mass, but rather a mediator of the Higgs field's influence. • It's a very short-lived particle, decaying almost instantly into other particles. • Its discovery opens doors to further exploration of the universe's fundamental building blocks and forces.