Why build the Large Hadron Collider? - page 7
Keywords: Physics Report Large Hadron Collider Basic Introduction Grand Unified Theory Cosmic Rays Anti Matter Extra Dimensions String Theory Dark Matter Higgs Boson
By Jenny on 02/07/2009
Level: A Level (Year 13)
Page Number: 7 of 16 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
(the theory of the strong force) and is consistent with both quantum mechanics and special relativity (which unlike general relativity does not include gravity) and almost all tests of the three forces it describes have agreed with its predictions. However, the theory is not complete primarily due to its exclusion of gravity, but also due to some other problems [the eighteen numerical parameters (such as masses and coupling constants) must be put "by hand" into the theory (rather than being derived from first principles)].[3][6]
The problem with the Standard Model is that in order for it to work mathematically, it needs gauge bosons to not have any mass. Experiments have proved that gauge bosons do have mass, so an explanation for this had to be found. Physicists Peter Higgs, Robert Brout and François Englert came up with one.
They suggested that just after the Big Bang none of the particles had mass, but as the Universe cooled an invisible force field called the ‘Higgs field’ was formed along with the ‘Higgs boson. This field exists throughout the Universe and any particles that interact with it are given mass via the Higgs boson. The more particles interact the heavier they are, while the ones that don’t interact at all have no mass.[19][1]
This explanation fitted with existing theories and observations but the problem remains that no one has ever observed the Higgs Boson in an experiment to confirm it. If it was found it would not only confirm the theory but it would help have explain have particles have the certain masses they do and to develop further physics in this area. It’s particularly difficult to find as its own mass isn’t known, so Physicists have to search for it by systematically searching the range of mass that its been predicted to lie in. They will be able to search this so far unexplored range using the LHC, which will determine whether or not it exists and so confirm or deny the whole Higgs field theory. If it isn’t found it will allow new theories for the origins of mass to be developed. [1] [3]
DARK MATTER
It was only fairly recently that astronomers and physicists discovered that the kind of matter we known (planets, stars, galaxies) only makes up about 4% of the Universe, so its not surprising that another one of the LHC’s main objectives is to find the particles that make up ‘dark
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