Why the LHC matters

josephpalazzo · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:32 pm Post subject: Why the LHC matters

This is a period of great excitement in the physics world as the LHC is about to get functional. Here’s why.

i) One of the theorems of the Standard Model (SM) is that the number of quark families is equal to the number of lepton families, which they are at the moment – each being equal to 3 families, each family containing two particles. So, presently the SM contains 6 leptons and six quarks.

But suppose that another, new lepton is found?!? It would mean a new family of leptons has been discovered. The consequence would then be to find its partner to complete the family AND the two quarks of the corresponding new family. Because of symmetry, these new particles (4 so far) would have their anti-particle partners, thus automatically doubling the number of new particles to 8. So finding one single new lepton would trigger the search of seven more.

ii) Supersymmetry (SUSY) is a theory crucial to String Theory (ST), Grand Unifying Theories (GUT’s) and in cosmology. Now all particles fall into two broad categories: fermions, with half-integral spins, constitute the building blocks of matter; bosons, with integral spins, mediate the force between particles of matter. SUSY postulates that for every boson there is a fermion, and vice-versa. For example, the electron, a fermion with ½ spin, would have a partner dubbed the selectron with spin 0. The photon, a boson with spin 1, would have as its partner, the photino with spin ½.

If any of these are discovered, we wouldn’t know what their use is for, perhaps they might make up Dark matter or Dark energy, but that’s just a guess.

iii) The Higgs boson is crucial to SM. Here’s why. Back in the 1930’s, when people were working on quantum field theory (QFT), they were faced with a theory riddled with infinities. Dirac was the first one to work around by introducing what is called a Lagrange multiplier – a fancy name but technically is very simple, it’s just a constant. The trick is, instead of performing an integration which gives the infinity, one plugs in a constant, does the integration, which now doesn’t go to infinity, then removes the constant. It turns out this made QFT a theory of the real world, but most physicists, including Dirac, were highly unsatisfied with this math trick. Feynman was able to do the same by using graphs and looking at the path integrals by considering all possibilities. When this was applied to the electromagnetic force, quantum electrodynamics (QED) became the most precise theory on this planet.

However, this trick only works because the photon, the particle that mediates the electromagnetic force, is massless. In the weak and strong nuclear forces, the bosons have masses. When that is taken into consideration, the infinities reappear.

Higgs was able to work around this by proposing that these bosons acquire their masses by a process called spontaneous symmetry breaking – a fancy name, but it is just another math trick. The analogy is the particle on a hill. It is at rest and every direction is equal (the symmetry) But once it’s nudged, it will roll down the hill. By choosing a direction, it has broken the symmetry. In the SM, the massless boson acquires mass – that is, breaks the symmetry – by traveling through a Higgs field.

By adopting this scheme, called the Higgs mechanism, Weinberg and Salam were able to get rid of the infinities that plagued SM. So the Higgs particle is a must for SM to be validated.

iv) If no discovery of new particles takes place, then this would be just as intriguing. No SUSY particles means String Theory is in trouble; no Higgs boson, and SM would be on very shaky ground.

And so, the bets are on. Will the LHC confirm SM, SUSY and ST, or throw a monkey wrench into any of these theories???

Cydonia21 · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject:

Its going to be very exciting.

The things you listed are really just some the major headlines. It doesn't even begin to cover all the things that are going to be tested with the LHC. Some of the other really popular headline items include the possibility of never before seen, but not theoretically ruled out, combinations of quarks. These particles are dubbed "Stranglets". There is also micro black holes.

Moloth · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:38 pm Post subject:

I hope we awaken Cthulhu.

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starling · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:26 pm Post subject: Re: Why the LHC matters

Philosophos · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:29 pm Post subject:

You really don't know much about the history of science, do you starling?
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Hit_me_up024 · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:02 am Post subject:

i dont know about LHC, but some THC (tetrahydrocanibanol). that is some important shit
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josephpalazzo · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:29 pm Post subject: Re: Why the LHC matters

Moloth · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject:

O_o

wow.. starling seems like a fellow who really appreciates the noble endeavor of science.
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Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total

Mr_C · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:56 pm Post subject: Re: Why the LHC matters

SvZurich · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:32 am Post subject:

Fire it up! And just in case, make a sign and put it outside the pull of a theoretical black hole that could form that says "Warning, firing up the LHC now." Remove sign if test goes off without a hitch. Smile

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baddogma · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:22 am Post subject:

joshuas3521 · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:42 am Post subject:

Ah, I cannot wait until the results start pouring in!
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Mr_C · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:14 am Post subject:

joshuas3521 · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am Post subject:

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