The Discovery of the Higgs Boson

Overview

Class Central Tips

The discovery of a new fundamental particle at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), CERN is the latest step in a long quest seeking to answer one of physics’ most enduring questions: why do particles have mass? The experiments’ much anticipated success confirms predictions made decades earlier by Peter Higgs and others, and offers a glimpse into a universe of physics beyond the Standard Model. As Professor Peter Higgs continues his inspiring role at Edinburgh University’s School of Physics & Astronomy, the experiments at the LHC continue. This free online course introduces the theoretical tools needed to appreciate the discovery, and presents the elementary particles that have been discovered at the tiniest scales ever explored. Beginning with basic concepts in classical mechanics, the story unfolds through relativity and quantum mechanics, describing forces, matter and the unification of theories with an understanding driven by the tools of mathematics. Narrating the journey through experimental results which led to the discovery in 2012, the course invites you to learn from a team of world-class physicists at Edinburgh University. Learners participate in discussion of the consequences of the Higgs boson, to physics and cosmology, and towards a stronger understanding and new description of the universe. Photo of Professor Higgs © Peter Tuffy, The University of Edinburgh.

Syllabus

Theoretical description of physical phenomena

The Higgs discovery is the latest step in a long journey of discovery of the elementary constituents of matter. Before we discuss the detailed structure of matter at the smallest scales ever explored, we want to introduce some basic concepts in the more familiar framework of classical mechanics.

A theory of matter and light

In order to have a consistent description of the interactions of matter and light, we need a new framework. QED as an example of RQFT.

A theory of matter and light

In order to have a consistent description of the interactions of matter and light, we need a new framework. QED as an example of RQFT.

From QED to QCD and the weak force

The framework introduced for QED can be generalised to describe all four fundamental forces in Nature. Characteristic features of the strong/weak force, what needs to be modified with respect to QED.

The Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism and the Standard Model

The Higgs mechanism, and the construction of the Standard Model, and Higgs phenomenology.

Experimental evidence for the Standard Model

This week should provide an overview of experimental techniques (colliders/detectors), and results.

Beyond the Standard Model

Basic understanding of concepts behind the hot big bang cosmology; relevance of particle processes to early Universe cosmology; summary of cosmological observations suggesting physics beyond the standard model.