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SeventhSigma
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What is the current state of things? Are they fairly confident that the Higgs exist despite more data being needed for the 5-sigma confidence level? Could it still (realistically) turn out to not exist?
While this might be true for channels without direct mass measurements, the two-photon channel should not be affected by this. This plot from ATLAS shows some peak-like structure which is already visible by eye.kurros said:or a really unfortunate and strange screwup in the background modelling.
If you ask the scientists directly involved in the seach, they will tell you something about "it is too early to say this". But the usual opinion seems to be that this is the Higgs at ~125 GeV.SeventhSigma said:Are they fairly confident [...]
The Higgs Boson is a subatomic particle that was first theorized in the 1960s by physicist Peter Higgs. It is believed to be responsible for giving other particles their mass and is a crucial part of the Standard Model of particle physics.
The Higgs Boson was discovered in 2012 by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Switzerland. Scientists used high-energy proton collisions to produce and detect the particle.
Confidence levels are a statistical measure used to determine the likelihood that a particular result is due to chance. In the case of the Higgs Boson, confidence levels are used to determine the certainty of its discovery and to rule out any other possible explanations.
The discovery of the Higgs Boson is important because it confirms the existence of the Higgs field, which is essential for our understanding of how particles acquire mass. It also helps to validate the Standard Model of particle physics and provides a deeper understanding of the fundamental building blocks of the universe.
The discovery of the Higgs Boson has significant implications for both theoretical physics and practical applications. It allows us to better understand the origins of mass and the fundamental forces that govern the universe. It also has potential applications in fields such as medicine and technology, as well as furthering our understanding of the Big Bang and the beginnings of the universe.