Q. The efforts to detect the existence of Higgs boson particle have become frequent news in the recent past. What is/are the importance/ importances of discovering this particle?
- It will enable us to understand as to why elementary particles have mass.
- It will enable us in the near future to develop the technology of transferring matter from one point to another without traversing the physical space between them.
- It will enable us to create better fuels for nuclear fission.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below. (UPSC Prelims 2013)
Answer:
1 only
Notes: The correct answer is
[A] 1 only. The discovery of the Higgs boson, often called the "God Particle," was a monumental achievement in particle physics, primarily because it confirmed the existence of the
Higgs field.
- Understanding Particle Mass (Statement 1 is Correct): According to the Standard Model of particle physics, elementary particles (like electrons and quarks) do not inherently have mass. Instead, they acquire mass by interacting with an all-pervading energy field known as the Higgs field. The Higgs boson is the physical manifestation (the particle) of this field. Without this interaction, particles would zip through the universe at the speed of light, and atoms could never form.
- Matter Transfer/Teleportation (Statement 2 is Incorrect): The discovery of the Higgs boson is related to the fundamental origin of mass, not to the manipulation of space-time or the development of "teleportation" technology. Transferring matter without traversing physical space remains a concept of science fiction and is not a predicted application of Higgs boson research.
- Better Fuels for Nuclear Fission (Statement 3 is Incorrect): Nuclear fission is a process governed by the Strong Nuclear Force and the properties of atomic nuclei (like Uranium or Plutonium). While the Higgs mechanism explains the mass of the fundamental quarks inside protons and neutrons, the practical development of nuclear fuels belongs to the realm of nuclear engineering and does not depend on our ability to detect the Higgs boson.
Why is it called the "God Particle"?The term was coined by Nobel laureate Leon Lederman to highlight the particle's role in "ordering" the universe. If the Higgs field did not exist, the fundamental building blocks of matter would have no mass, meaning stars, planets, and life as we know it could not exist.