Classy Mechanics

the Fermilab Remote Operations Center

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is no stranger to controversy: first came the media storm over its potential for worldwide destruction, then there was the six tonne helium leak in September of 2008 which put the entire experiment on ice, and of course there are the claims of time traveling particles that are sabotaging the LHC in order to save the universe from destruction. In addition, the price tag on the LHC has been seen as exorbitant by some, and a criminal waste of money by others, there’s no denying that the 4.6 billion franc price tag makes it the most expensive scientific experiment to date, which is why it’s important that people are informed about the benefits of investing so much money in something that may very well produce no results.

The chief goal of the LHC is the discovery of the Higgs Boson, a fundamental particle predicted to exist by the standard model of particle physics which is the study of matter and radiation and how the two interact. The major point of interest in the Higgs Boson is that it is, theoretically, the fundamental particle which interacts with protons, neutrons and electrons to give them mass, a phenomenon which is not yet fully understood by physicists. Peter Higgs, in answer to this question, proposed that all the particles making up the universe are traveling through a field (much like a magnetic field) the field interacts with every particle which is moving through it and this interaction manifests itself in the form of mass.

This is similar to the way a bullet would travel through very thick gelatin, what is observed is not the actual force of resistance on the bullet but rather the result of that resistance as the bullet slows down and eventually stops, and if the size of the bullet is increased then it will slow down more rapidly: the interaction between bullet and gelatin is much greater. In actuality Higgs Bosons constitute the gelatin and protons, neutrons and electrons are bullets, however, instead of slowing down particles this interaction yields mass which gives rise to inertia, the resistance to change in motion. Electrons, the small bullets interact weakly with this field and protons, the big bullets interact more strongly, this is why electrons have less mass than protons and consequently do not carry as much momentum.

Like most other things scientific, this is absolutely fascinating to physicists but considered completely irrelevant by the rest of the population, however, the discovery of the Higgs Boson has the potential to be one of the most important scientific advances in human history. The discovery of fundamental particles has quite often led to extraordinary advances in technology even giving rise to entirely new technologies as engineers and physicists determine how best to manipulate these particles. Were it not for the discovery of the electron it is doubtful that electricity would ever have become such a major foundation of human society, similarly nuclear power, radiometric dating and the myriad of other technologies which utilize radioactive decay would not exist if the atom had never been discovered.

The discovery of the Higgs Boson, could enable engineers and scientists to manipulate the interactions between particles and the Higgs field, this is highly significant because the ability to change the mass of particles could realize light speed travel, space elevators, advanced robotics and a plethora of other technologies. Reducing the mass of a fully loaded plane would improve efficiency, near massless satellites could be launched into orbit for a minute fraction of the current cost, in fact, the manipulation of mass could even lead to the manipulation of the physical size of molecules and objects, turning Kleiner’s Fantastic Voyage into a viable medical reality.

It is apparent then that the discovery of the Higgs Boson could very well herald the greatest revolution in human technology since the advent of electricity, as long as the Large Hadron Collider doesn’t destroy the world first.