I want
to take the readers back in time, Billions of light years away, to an instant, when the Big bang had just created the Universe. Immediately
after this, the first particles that formed were entirely mass-less
and zipped around the fledgling universe at the speed of light. But a
trillionth of a second later, something happened and scores of
particles acquired a mass, which led to formation of basic sub atomic
particles like quarks and electrons that make up atoms.But what was
it that made this conversion possible from energy to mass? Scientists
have been looking for a satisfactory answer for this riddle a long
time.
We all
know from school level physics that energy can be derived from mass,
e.g. burning wood. We also know the principle of conservation of
energy. Later, Albert Einstein gave us the empirical relationship
with which mass can be converted into energy. But all this was like
describing only half the picture, no one knew how energy gets
converted into mass. On a cosmic scale we know that black holes
devour huge and massive stars and planets and let out energy bursts
but no one could tell how stars are born from no where.
Then
in 1960's, a Scottish physicist, Peter Higgs, predicted an invisible
field that is all around us – and even within us, that could be
giving mass to the basic constituents of atoms. His theory written
in pencil on a pad of paper, also suggested possibility of an another
particle, by exchange of which, basic constituents of atoms might be
acquiring their masses. This Higgs energy field ensures that the
universe is not an ocean of mass-less particles hurtling around at
the speed of light, as it was at the time of creation.
In the
generally accepted theory of sub atomic particles and forces, it is
believed that the sub
atomic particles exert forces on each other by exchanging a class of
particles called Bosons
(Named after famous Indian scientist Bose.), which have a mass and
also Photons, which have no mass. Bosons also are constituents of the
list of the Fundamental particles. These 12 particles and four basic
forces are now considered as The Standard Model in Physics. Extending
this theory, Peter Higgs thought of a new particle now known as Higgs
Boson, that forms the mechanism by which all pervading Higgs energy
field around us, gives mass to sub atomic particles by exchange of
this Boson.
With
Higgs theory, now it was possible to predict what must have happened
a trillionth of a second after the Big Bang. At this point of time,
the Higgs energy field got somehow switched on and the whole process
of creating particles with mass began in the Universe.
However,
any theory in physics remains just a theory on paper, unless it can
be proved by an experiment. It would be obvious to anyone that since
Higgs Boson transfers mass from energy field to a particle, it must
exist for a tiniest interval of time before destroying itself in form
of Photons. That is why even though it is around all the time since
Big bang, it had been almost impossible to physically detect it's
presence.
A
facility was built by European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN) in
1970. This facility, built at the cost of $ 10 Billion near
Swiss-French border, known as Large Hadron Collider, actually is an
atom smasher, which creates high-energy collisions of protons to
investigate dark matter, anti-matter and the creation of the
universe, which many theorise occurred in a massive explosion known
as the Big Bang.
On the
morning of 4 July, 2013, CERN revealed in a seminar for the first
time that they had indeed discovered the Higgs boson. The news,
though anticipated and expected, so much overwhelmed the audience
that they got to their feet with thunderous applause.
Weeks
later, Peter Higgs dabbed his eyes with his handkerchief, watching a
video of this very moment. He explained his reaction. "I was
about to burst into tears, I was knocked over by the wave of the
reaction of the audience. Up until then I was holding back
emotionally, but when the audience reacted I couldn't hold back any
more. That's the only way I can explain it." He was so emotional
not because CERN had finally proved his theory right, but for what
the discovery meant to those around him.
This
week, 84 year Peter Higgs, along with the Belgian theorist, François
Englert was awarded the Noble prize for Physics, worth 8 Million
Swedish kronor as a huge measure of kudos and recognition of their
pioneer work. When the media broke the news, to escape the media
spotlight and inevitable rush of journalists, the reclusive scientist
just disappeared off on holiday without a mobile phone. In his normal
life style also, Peter Higs is illusive to the core. He has no
computer, and no email. He answers the phone only when he knows who
is calling.
His
close friends and fellow physicists at Edinburgh University,
celebrated the award of Noble prize after watching the announcement
from Stockholm online at the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics.
Peter Higgs however was absent. Much later, Edinburgh University,
released a statement in which the physicist said that he was
overwhelmed to receive the award and added "I hope this
recognition of fundamental science will help raise awareness of the
value of blue-sky research."
Ben
Allanach, a theoretical physicist at Cambridge University says: "I
cannot over-stress the importance of the discovery. The mass
mechanism that the Higgs boson is a signal for has had a huge impact
on particle physics over the last 50 years. I think many of us felt
that it had to be correct, although we were willing to let data
dissuade us."
Very
true! Peter Higgs, the reclusive theoretical physicist, has no doubt
made a tremendous contribution that has helped the mankind to
understand a little more of the riddle that is called the Universe.
However he has proved to be as illusive as the Goddamn Particle
itself, whose presence he had predicted in 1960's.
10
October 2013
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