CERN scientists on the Higgs boson – the search for Gottesteilchen just before the end
feverishly looking for CERN researchers for the Higgs particle. So far, they could not prove it, but now proclaims one of them: in a few months, the search will be completed
The Higgs particle -. if they ever existed – is tiny. However, this could include infinitesimally small particles, the largest gap that exists in the standard model of particle physics. With the evidence could finally explain why galaxies cluster together and the stars, why are there planets, ultimately, humans. No wonder that scientists are searching frantically for it.
A great model with a key hook
With the standard model of particle physics researchers for decades, large areas of which have confirmed experiments. Only one critical element missing: “The standard model will only work properly if it is assumed that particles have no mass. But they have mass. Not only is it clear where this mass comes. If there would be a Higgs particle now, would this mystery solved, “said Stefan Stonjek from the Max-Planck-Institute for Physics, who himself has worked regularly at the nuclear research center CERN. The physicist Peter Higgs is the namesake of the particle. By 1964 he had, then 35 years old, predicted the existence of the particle. It would not exist, would the entire model into question.
Finding the Higgs particle was a major concern, as the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) was built at the CERN research center. Billion was pumped into the project. “Previous studies have provided evidence that the Higgs particle could be there,” Rudiger Schmidt, a senior scientist at particle accelerators. “But each measurement can contain errors. So, experiments are repeated countless times. “
proton in the ring tunnel crash
When searching for the Gottesteilchen be in the 27-kilometer circular tunnel of the LHC particle accelerator at CERN near Geneva Research protons ejected with immense force on each other. This results in many different Folgeteilchen -. Among them, scientists hope also to discover the Higgs boson
In their experiments, the physicists were able energy range in which they find the Higgs particle, more and more narrow. At a conference in July 2011, they were optimistic. They were discovered in the interval 115-145 giga-electronvolts (GeV) promising signals
At a subsequent conference in mid-August, the experts were suddenly far more skeptical than before. For in the meantime had indeed doubled the data base – but the number of references to the existence of the Higgs particle is found to be statistically less significant. A step backwards.
In December, announced the physicist Fabiola Gianotti, the Atlas experiment, the traces of the particle centered at a mass of around 126 giga. “But it’s too early for final conclusions,” she added. Further studies and data are necessary.The practical benefits
Even if Myers is right and the Higgs particle is found to August or September: The results will be as soon nothing that could be ordered over the Internet or in-store purchase. “Only history will show whether the finding has a practical use,” says physicist Stefan Stonjek sure and try a comparison: “When the electricity was discovered, people were still on the road at night with torches and candles. No one has assumed that transform centuries later, whole cities, thanks to electricity at night in a sea of lights. “From a carnival attraction of no practical use was an invention that everyday so relieved much that it would be difficult for.
If the particle was not found until the autumn, the Irish Times quoted from the CERN scientist Stephen Myers, one would have to dahinausreichend data to exclude the existence of the particle. “Then there must be another mechanism for the masses,” said Myers of the Irish Times,. Of these, however, he goes from not. He believes he told the Irish newspaper that CERN will provide evidence for the Higgs boson -. And that the chance of a mistake of “one to two million”
