"The Higgs Boson: A Eureka Moment in Particle Physics"

In the realm of modern quantum physics a simple yet obscure question is imposed: What is
mass? And how is it imparted to particles? This mysterious question surrounding mass can
be answered once scientists have confirmed the existence of a Higgs boson. The Higgs
boson holds immense significance due to it being the centrepiece of the standard model (a
theoretical quantum model to explain the building blocks of the universe), once the higgs
boson is found it confirms the existence of the Higgs field (a field which gives mass to
fundamental particles such as electrons and quarks) which ultimately explains how particles
acquire mass.Through humanity’s limited understanding of the quantum world, scientists at
numerous research institutes have been conducting various experiments to uncover the
truth behind this elusive branch of physics, after Peter Higgs theorised the existence of a
potential enigmatic particle in 1964. Nearly half a century later, in 2012 the discovery of the
Higgs field and the Higgs boson was confirmed through a revolutionary experiment
conducted at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, which is the largest and most powerful
particle accelerator today. The experiment which confirmed the new Higgs boson particle
was investigated at the ATLAS and CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) detectors with over 5000
members collectively working on the project.

The detectors worked by having six detecting subsystems to record the path, momentum
and energy of the particles. The detectors are arranged in layers around collision points of
where beams of particles are predicted to collide and make collision debris in the form of
new particles. The only difference between the ATLAS and CMS detectors are the different
magnet-system designs.

After the discovery, in 2013 the Nobel prize was awarded jointly to François Englert and
Peter W. Higgs "for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our
understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was
confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS and
CMS experiments at CERN's Large Hadron Collider"

Not only did the discovery of an immensely important particle complete a quantum model
and was named the “god particle” by many physicists including Stephen Hawking, the
technologies which were used to develop the mechanics in order to find this particle are
currently used in our everyday lives. “It can be said that the Higgs boson has indirectly
affected everyday life, since many of the technologies developed to find it are now in use all
over the globe, in areas well beyond particle physics” Stated a member at CERN. Innovation
which stemmed from the technologies of the discovery include: the World Wide Web,
touchscreens, technologies to treat cancer (hadron therapy and electron-radiotherapy),
medical diagnostics (3D colour X-ray scanner), radiation monitoring used in space, air
pollution monitors, and more.

In conclusion, the discovery of the Higgs boson and the Higgs field didn’t only answer our
long awaited question surrounding mass, but its technologies have inspired many inventions
which we currently use in our everyday life.

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