Overnight the European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN, announced they are closer to finding the elusive Higgs boson.
The Higgs boson was first postulated by Professor Peter Higgs, who is a particle-physics theorist from the University of Edinburgh. Proving its existence could provide a scientific explanation to why objects have mass.
The new developments were made possible thanks to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) - a 27 kilometre circular accelerator, located 100 metres underground at CERN, near Geneva. Accelerators have a wide variety of applications, including the scientific study of atoms and subatomic particles – the building blocks for all matter. The LHC was opened in 2008 and is the world’s largest accelerator. Australia’s most important accelerator is the Australian Synchrotron, which accelerates electrons that produce intense beams of light and X-rays to study matter at the atomic scale.
Australia can be proud that Professor Geoffrey Taylor and his colleagues and students from Melbourne University have had a longstanding association with the ATLAS experiment - which contributed to the massive calculations and computations that have given this tantalising clue to the existence of the Higgs.
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has two accelerators at our campus in Lucas Heights, with another two being built. ANSTO’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Adi Paterson, today congratulated CERN, saying the new indications of the existence of the Higgs represents a major step towards solving one of science’s most profound mysteries.
“This is an exciting day for science, and demonstrates how international collaborations can deliver real dividends that will ultimately benefit all Australians. Australia should build on our small contribution to CERN’s efforts through the Australian Collaboration of Accelerator Science (ACAS), which includes ANSTO, the Australian Synchrotron, the Australian National University and Melbourne University,” Dr Paterson said.
Australia’s relationship with CERN has been strengthened over the last two years, with increased exchanges and interactions. ANSTO maintains the relationship with CERN on behalf of the Australian Government. Areas of shared interest between the two organisations include:
- Accelerator science and its medical applications – including in uniting physics, biology and medicine for better healthcare; and
- Planning for a particle (Hadron therapy) facility – which if established would enable high-precision treatment of childhood and currently inoperable cancers.
Published: 14/12/2011