The Discovery of the Higgs Boson

Syllabus

• Week 1

  Theoretical description of physical phenomena

  • Why is the discovery of the Higgs Boson important?

    The Sun is still burning, 4.6 billion years after it was created. But why?

  • Understanding the Higgs discovery plot

    What does it really mean that we have discovered the Higgs boson?

  • Introduction to week 1

    We discuss the general ideas underpinning the theoretical description of natural phenomena in the simplest possible context: Newtonian classical mechanics.

  • Newtonian dynamics and conservation laws

    We discuss the basic ideas of Newtonian dynamics, and highlight a few important concepts that will be useful in later weeks.

  • Conservation laws and symmetry

    We discuss how conservation laws are related to symmetries of the system. This is an important concept, which remains valid at small distances when quantum mechanics is needed to describe the dynamics.

  • In conversation with Peter Higgs

    Peter Higgs shares his views on the concept of particle and fields in classical mechanics.

  • Summary

    Here we summarise the ideas introduced this week. Although you do not need to have followed all the mathematical derivations, you should be familiar with these concepts by the end of week 1.

  • Glossary

    Here you can find a glossary that we will keep updating for the whole duration of the course.

• Week 2

  From Maxwell to Einstein: the world at the atomic scale

  • Introduction to week 2

    We present some basic elements of electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. They are the pillars upon which our current description of the subatomic world is based.

  • Maxwell's equations

    Maxwell's equations describe the propagation of light in the form of electromagnetic waves. They are the first example that we encounter of field equations.

  • Special relativity

    Experimental results and theoretical principles of special relativity.

  • Basic ideas of quantum mechanics

    The description of Nature at the atomic scale requires a completely new paradigm. Do atomic systems behave as particles or waves? These lectures introduce the basic ideas at the very heart of quantum mechanics.

  • In conversation with Peter Higgs

    Peter's comments on electromagnetism and quantum mechanics.

  • Summary

    Here we summarise the topics studied in week 2.

• Week 3

  A theory of matter and light

  • Introduction to week 3

    Quantum field theory is the framework that combines quantum mechanics and special relativity. This week will focus on quantum electrodynamics, the theory that describes the interactions of photons and electrons.

  • Relativity and quantum mechanics

    The duality between particles and waves is a characteristic feature of quantum mechanics. Relativistic wave equations are needed in order to combine quantum mechanics and special relativity.

  • Quantum electrodynamics

    The dynamics of relativistic fields is described by quantum field theory. Here we introduce the basic elements of quantum electrodynamics, the theory that describes the interactions of matter and light.

  • In conversation with Peter Higgs: part one

    Peter discusses the role of symmetry in quantum electrodynamics.

  • In conversation with Peter Higgs: part two

    Peter's comments about divergences, and renormalisation in QED.

  • Summary

    The main focus of this week has been quantum field theory. Let us summarise the main topics discussed in the lectures.

• Week 4

  From QED to QCD and the weak force

  • Introduction to week 4

    The ideas upon which QED is built can be generalised, and a more general class of theories called gauge theories can be constructed. The theories of the strong and weak force are gauge theories.

  • Quantum chromodynamics

    We explore the basic features of the strong and weak forces; both are described by gauge theories, i.e. generalizations of quantum electrodynamics.

  • The electroweak force

    In this section we explore in details the characteristics of the weak force. We discuss physical processes mediated by weak interactions, and highlights the difficulties in building a consistent theory of massive gauge bosons.

  • Spontaneous symmetry breaking

    Symmetry breaking is central mechanism in the description of several phenomena ranging from solid state physics to elementary particles. Here we introduce the basic ideas underlying the Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism.

  • In conversation with Peter Higgs

    Peter's comments on the development of a theory of the strong and weak forces.

  • Summary

    Here is the summary of the main topics in this week's activities.

• Week 5

  The Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism and the Standard Model

  • Introduction to week 5

    The Higgs mechanism plays a central role in the Standard Model; it gives mass to the weak force carriers, but also to quarks and leptons.

  • The Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism and the Standard Model

    In this activity we will describe the implementation of the Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism in the Standard Model.

  • Higgs production and decay in the Standard Model

    We are finally in a position where we can study the production and the decays of the Higgs boson. These are the events observed by experiments at CERN.

  • In conversation with Peter Higgs

    Peter's comments on the famous 1964 paper.

  • Summary

    We conclude as usual by summarizing the topics discussed during this week.

• Week 6

  Experimental evidence for the Standard Model

  • Introduction to week 6

    The physics of particle colliders, and the experimental searches for the Higgs boson: starting from LEP and TeVatron to the LHC. The next experimental steps and the future of collider physics.

  • Early experimental searches for the Higgs Boson

    From Gargamelle, to the Super Proton-Antiproton Synchotron, the Large Electron Proton collider, the TeVatron and the Large Hadron Collider

  • Searches at the LHC and the discovery of the Higgs boson

    Capturing the Higgs boson, reconstructing it from its decay fragments, piecing together the evidence.

  • The next experimental steps

    First priority: measurement of the Higgs properties

  • In conversation with Peter Higgs

    Experimental searches for the Higgs Boson

  • The experimental challenges

    CERN Image CC BY (Image Editor on Wikimedia Commons)

  • Why is the sun burning so slowly?

    What is the relation between the Higgs boson and the rate at which the Sun is burning?

  • Summary

    We summarise the ideas and experimental results of the Higgs boson searches that we discussed this week.

• Week 7

  Beyond the Standard Model

  • Introduction to week 7

    What are the new challenges in particle physics?

  • Theories beyond the Standard Model

    The new challenge for fundamental physics is understanding the physics _beyond_ the Standard Model. There are several open questions that will guide our investigations of new theories.

  • The hot Big Bang

    Particle physics provides the foundations for cosmology, and models of the early moments of our Universe. Cosmological observations are a powerful method to test the theory. In this activity we introduce the hot Big Bang model.

  • The vacuum, the Higgs field and modern cosmology

    In this final lecture we discuss open problems in modern cosmology. Some of these open questions may provide the key to the development of new theories.

  • In conversation with Peter Higgs

    Peter's comments on theories beyond the Standard Model.

  • Bonus material: more footage from CERN

    Interviews with theorists and experimentalists from the CERN site

  • Summary

    The quest for new physics beyond the Standard Model has already started. We hope the course has triggered your curiosity for this topic.

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