From Atoms To Higgs Bosons

The announcement in 2012 that the Higgs boson had been discovered was understood as a watershed moment for the Standard Model of particle physics. It was deemed a triumphant event in the reductionist quest that had begun centuries ago with the ancient Greek natural philosophers. Physicists basked in the satisfaction of explaining to the world that the ultimate cause of mass in our universe had been unveiled at CERN, Switzerland. The Standard Model of particle physics is now understood by many to have arrived at a satisfactory description of entities and interactions on the smallest physical scales: elementary quarks, leptons, and intermediary gauge bosons residing within a four-dimensional spacetime continuum. Throughout the historical journey of reductionist physics, mathematics has played an increasingly dominant role. Indeed, abstract mathematics has now become indispensable in guiding our discovery of the physical world. Elementary particles are endowed with abstract existence in accordance with their appearance in complicated equations. Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, originally intended to estimate practical measurement uncertainties, now bequeaths a numerical fuzziness to the structure of reality. Particle physicists have borrowed effective mathematical tools originally invented and employed by condensed matter physicists to approximate the complex structures and dynamics of solids and liquids and bestowed on them the authority to define basic physical reality. The discovery of the Higgs boson was a result of these kinds of strategies, used by particle physicists to take the latest steps on the reductionist quest. This book offers a constructive critique of the modern orthodoxy into which all aspiring young physicists are now trained, that the ever-evolving mathematical models of modern physics are leading us toward a truer understanding of the real physical world. The authors propose that among modern physicists, physical realism has been largely replaced—in actual practice—by quasirealism, a problematic philosophical approach that interprets the statements of abstract, effective mathematical models as providing direct information about reality. History may judge that physics in the twentieth century, despite its seeming successes, involved a profound deviation from the historical reductionist voyage to fathom the mysteries of the physical universe.

The Standard Model explains how the universe works at distances a billion times smaller than the size of an atom. However, in the Standard Model, none of the particles have mass, yet one only has to look around to see that things do have mass. Explaining the source of mass has been the goal of particle physicists for over half a century, culminating in the discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider in 2012. Supporting the Next Generation Science Standards' emphasis on scientific collection and analysis of data and evidence-based theories, this book simplifies the difficult concept of the Higgs mechanism through analogies to everyday experiences as well as pictures, diagrams, and intuitive explanations.

Explore the history and the theoretical properties of Higgs Bosons, the exciting subatomic particles that have eluded scientists for years.

Explains the science behind the discover of the Higgs particle, also known as the God particle, and its implications for the future of science. 20,000 first printing.

The Higgs Boson: Searching for the God Particle by the Editors of Scientific American Updated 2017 Edition! For the fifth anniversary of one of the biggest discoveries in physics, we’ve updated this eBook to include our continuing analysis of the discovery, of the questions it answers and those it raises. As the old adage goes, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Where there is effect, there must be cause. The planet Neptune was found in 1846 because the mathematics of Newton's laws, when applied to the orbit of Uranus, said some massive body had to be there. Astronomers eventually found it, using the best telescopes available to peer into the sky. This same logic is applied to the search for the Higgs boson. One consequence of the prevailing theory of physics, called the Standard Model, is that there has to be some field that gives particles their particular masses. With that there has to be a corresponding particle, made by creating waves in the field, and this is the Higgs boson, the so-called God particle. This eBook chronicles the search – and demonstrates the power of a good theory. Based on the Standard Model, physicists believed something had to be there, but it wasn't until the Large Hadron Collider was built that anyone could see evidence of the Higgs – and finally in July 2012, they did. A Higgs-like particle was found near the energies scientists expected to find it. Now, armed with better evidence and better questions, the scientific process continues. This eBook gathers the best reporting and analysis from Scientific American to explain that process – the theories, the search, the ongoing questions. In essence, everything you need to know to separate Higgs from hype.

A fascinating tour of particle physics from Nobel Prize winner Leon Lederman. At the root of particle physics is an invincible sense of curiosity. Leon Lederman embraces this spirit of inquiry as he moves from the Greeks' earliest scientific observations to Einstein and beyond to chart this unique arm of scientific study. His survey concludes with the Higgs boson, nicknamed the God Particle, which scientists hypothesize will help unlock the last secrets of the subatomic universe, quarks and all--it's the dogged pursuit of this almost mystical entity that inspires Lederman's witty and accessible history.

This informative and entertaining book provides a broad look at the fascinating history of CERN, and the physicists working in different areas at CERN who were active in the discovery of the Higgs Boson. Profound and well-structured, the contents combine present day interviews with the scientists of CERN, the world's largest laboratory dedicated to the pursuit of fundamental science, with important figures in the history of science (e.g., Maxwell, Faraday, Einstein), and also gives a lot of information on the history of quantum mechanics and the history of physics from its beginnings. It is an easy-to-read book on a complex topic, providing a very personal insight into the personalities of top scientists and the history of science as well. This invaluable book will capture the interest of the curious reader, telling the story of one of the greatest scientific endeavors ever. Contents:The History of CERNThe Practitioner: Rolf-Dieter HeuerThe Beginning of Modern Physics: Galileo, Copernicus, and KeplerThe Experimentalist: Tejinder S VirdeeDalton — Thomson — Rutherford — BohrThe Man Who Built The LHC: Lyn EvansPhysics, Music, and Art: Tara ShearsThe Theorist: John EllisOersted — Ampère — Faraday — MaxwellThe Communicator: Rolf LanduaAlbert Einstein (1879–1955)The Japanese Way: Masaki HoriThe Nobel Prize Laureate: Carlo RubbiaThe American Friend: Sebastian WhiteFriendly Competitors: Sebastian White and Albert De RoeckRock 'n' Roll, Beer, Billiards, and Music: Jonathan ButterworthThe Higgs Boson — and Then? Readership: General. Key Features:Non-technical, full-bodied book jam-packed with information on the history of science and CERN which is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2014Personal interviews with the scientists of CERN, who made the practical discovery of the Higgs Boson possible, which was predicted by Peter Higgs et al., 40 years agoThe book paints the complete picture of the necessary means, the technology and the people to make these discoveries possibleIt looks at CERN and the search for the Higgs boson from a very personal angle. Going beyond science and technology, it provides a profound picture of science and its impact on society at the beginning of the 21st century and beyond. CERN and the LHC are entering into everyday culture, and this non-technical book shows important aspects of the impact of scientific research on our view of the worldKeywords:CERN;Higgs Boson;Particle Physics;Nobel Prize;Peter Higgs;PhysicsReviews: “Michael Krause has created a full-bodied work that should be on the shelf of every library and individual interested in the history of science. This is a compelling text that combines interesting and key facts about the creation of CERN and the fundamental structure of matter with the human quest of the search for knowledge and the seeking of answers as to how the universe was created and even why we are here. I highly recommend this delightful and very informative text.” Marc J Seifer Author of “Wizard: The Life & Times of Nikola Tesla” “In this exciting and informative book, the historian Michael Krause looks behind the scenes of the largest scientific institution in the world, CERN. The author draws an exciting picture of the people who work at CERN, and also of the ideas and visions that these top scientists really have. This inspiring book is full of stories from the scientific Mecca in Geneva, and it paints a portrait of life on the CERN campus that is highly recommended reading for both beginners and experts.” Ralf Krauter Deutschlandfunk, Germany “Over several years, the author interviewed CERN scientists about how they have come to particle physics, and what drives them in their research: the human factor plays the key part in this rich and inspiring book. Amidst the very personal and exciting interviews we can find highly interesting excursus into the history of science and its most famous minds. This mix of interviews and technical information is very well done and makes this book a highly enlightening read.” Richard Kirstein Elementary Reading “This is an informative and entertaining celebration of the most remarkable thing about CERN — that such a place ever came to be in the first place. The interesting story of CERN, told in the first part of the book recounts a remarkable political success, largely the brainchild of physicists. The major part of the book consists of interviews with physicists active in different areas at CERN. The author also adds material supporting the topics under discussion, i.e. the Standard Model, or antimatter; and technologies developed at CERN. I commend Michael Krause on this novel approach to discussions about CERN.” Sebastian White ATLAS ZDC experiment “You do get to know some hardcore scientists at a personal level. Their answers give the reader a glimpse of the great endeavour that is CERN, and they also hint that the adventure is far from over — even after the Higgs discovery. With all the background information, you do not have to have a physics degree to gain a basic understanding of the science.” CERN Courier

This book aims to present the history and developments of particle physics from the introduction of the notion of particles by the Ionian school until the discovery of the Higgs boson at LHC in 2012. Neutrino experiments and particle accelerators where different particles have been discovered are reviewed. In particular, details about the CERN accelerators are presented. This book also discusses the future developments of the field and the work to popularize high energy physics. A short presentation of some features of astrophysics and its connection to particle physics is also included. At the end of the book, some useful tools in the research of particle physics are given for the advanced readers.