Higgs boson decays to Bottom/Anti-Bottom then what?

In summary, the charts at CERN show that the 126 GeV Higgs boson is expected to decay to a bottom/anti-bottom quark combination 56% of the time. This does not mean that it decays to an Upsilon meson, as this would violate energy/momentum conservation. The two separated quarks will each end up in their own hadron, often with a charm-quark, which then decays again. The signature in the detector is two groups of hadrons, and the way to identify that a bottom quark was produced is through B-tagging.
  • #1
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The charts at CERN show calculations that a 126 GeV Higgs boson is expected to decay to a bottom/anti-bottom quark combination 56% of the time. Do they mean as an Upsilon Meson which decays in a certain pattern according to the wiki meson decay charts? Or, do they mean independent bottom and anti-bottom quarks, where the bottom quark decays into a charm or an up quark according to the wiki bottom quark page.

I fear I may have some confusion regarding the understanding of decays. Ie. after decaying to the bottom/anti-bottom pair, what is the most likely next decay product of the bottom/anti-bottom pair?
 
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  • #2
The Higgs boson cannot decay to an Upsilon meson, this would violate energy/momentum conservation.

The two quarks get separated (they have a total invariant energy of 126 GeV! Much more than the quark masses), both will end up in their own hadron, usually together with several other particles (as jets).
Those hadrons decay eventually (usually within a few millimeters), often in hadrons with a charm-quark, which decay again.

The signatures in the detector are two groups of hadrons in the detector (plus whatever the remaining proton-proton collision produces). Sometimes, the decay of the hadron with the b-quark can be reconstructed.
 
  • #3
The way to tell that a bottom quark was produced is: B-tagging.
 

1. What is the significance of Higgs boson decaying to bottom/anti-bottom particles?

The Higgs boson is an elementary particle that is responsible for giving mass to other particles. Its decay to bottom and anti-bottom particles is of particular interest because it confirms the interaction between the Higgs field and the bottom quark, which is one of the fundamental building blocks of matter.

2. How is the Higgs boson decay to bottom/anti-bottom particles detected?

The decay of the Higgs boson to bottom and anti-bottom particles is detected through the observation of specific decay products. These products can be identified through the use of detectors in particle accelerators, such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. The detectors measure the energy and momentum of the particles produced in the decay, allowing scientists to reconstruct the decay process.

3. What is the role of the bottom quark in the decay process?

The bottom quark is one of the six types of quarks that make up the building blocks of matter. In the decay process, the bottom quark interacts with the Higgs boson, which gives it mass. The bottom quark is an important player in this process as it helps to confirm the existence and properties of the Higgs boson.

4. Are there other particles that the Higgs boson can decay to?

Yes, the Higgs boson can decay to a variety of particles, including W and Z bosons, photons, and tau leptons. However, the decay to bottom and anti-bottom particles is of particular interest because it is a direct confirmation of the interaction between the Higgs field and the bottom quark.

5. How does the observation of Higgs boson decaying to bottom/anti-bottom particles contribute to our understanding of the Standard Model?

The Standard Model is the current theory that describes the fundamental particles and their interactions. The observation of the Higgs boson decaying to bottom and anti-bottom particles provides further evidence for the Standard Model and helps to validate its predictions. It also allows scientists to test and refine the model, potentially leading to new discoveries and a deeper understanding of the universe.

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