Do colliders observe mass first-hand?

[jhe1984]

Are all of the characteristics of particles currently confirmed by tests?

For instance, while I understand that certain particles are prescribed certain masses - and that these particles can be observed in cloud chambers, etc - but is the mass itself confirmed in the lab? By what process?

Also - and this is probably worthy of another thread - how will the graviton (the actual particle, not the phenomenon of g waves or gravity) be "discovered" in the lab? Will this happen soon or is the graviton still very speculative currently?

Thanks

 

[Pengwuino]

What do you mean "how will it be discovered"? If it doesn't exist, it's not going to be discovered... But if it does, of course, it will be hopefully.

 

[Astronuc]

Experiments and theoretical models have been going concurrently. As colliders have achieved higher energies, more particles have been discovered.

Take a look in the thread - Elementary Particles Presented - https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=43685

 

[Intuitive]

Doesn't Gravity act like a omni-directional Monofield in some sence?

 

[jtbell]

I understand that certain particles are prescribed certain masses - and that these particles can be observed in cloud chambers, etc - but is the mass itself confirmed in the lab? By what process?

In particle-physics experiments one determines the mass of a particle by measuring energy and momentum of the particles in an interaction that includes the particle in question, and applying conservation of energy and momentum, and the relationship

$$E^2 = (pc)^2 + (m_0 c^2)^2$$

New particles have often first shown up as peaks in a histogram of $E^2 - (pc)^2$ where E and p are the total energy and momentum of the outgoing particles after an interaction, indicating that a particle with the corresponding mass was an "intermediate" particle in the reaction.

 

[ahrkron]

Here is an example of the distribution mentioned by jtbell. This is from a published CDF result, showing the mass of a B-meson, reconstructed from its observable decay products.

 

[marlon]

Doesn't Gravity act like a omni-directional Monofield in some sence?

With all due respect, but allow me to contemplate on this raethorical question : "Do i understand myself, the words i have just written down ?"


regards
marlon