 December 20, 2023 Physicists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have achieved the most precise measurement of the Higgs boson’s mass to date, providing critical insights into the elusive particle’s properties. The Higgs boson, a cornerstone of the Standard Model, has a complex nature that requires experimental measurements, unlike other particles with masses deduced from theory.
Over a four-year period, the international team working on the ATLAS experiment at the LHC conducted measurements on approximately 9 million predicted Higgs boson particles. From this extensive dataset, the researchers obtained the Higgs boson’s mass with unprecedented precision. The refined measurement reduces statistical and systematic uncertainties, offering a more accurate depiction of the Higgs boson’s mass.
The Higgs boson plays a crucial role in the Standard Model by giving mass to other fundamental particles through a quantum field that pervades the universe. Despite its significance, the Higgs boson’s relatively large mass makes observation challenging. The latest measurements indicate a mass of 125.11 gigaelectronvolts (GeV) with an uncertainty of 0.11 GeV, refining the estimate from previous measurements in 2019.
While these precise measurements deepen our understanding of the Higgs boson, mysteries surrounding its properties persist. The particle’s mass appears to be three times lighter than predicted by models, raising questions about its interactions with other particles and even the possibility of undiscovered versions of the Higgs. The researchers hope that the refined measurements will help test predictions of the Standard Model and identify potential deviations that could lead to new physics beyond the established framework.
The ongoing quest to unravel the mysteries of the Higgs boson continues with advancements in collider technology, such as recent upgrades to the LHC, opening avenues for further exploration and discovery in the realm of particle physics.
Read Now:China Expresses Willingness to Expand Energy Cooperation with Russia Across Full Production Chain
Reference: https://www.sciencealert.com/new-measurement-of-the-higgs-boson-is-the-most-precise-ever-recorded
