Special Colloquium, April 21, 2004

The Higgs Boson and the Origin of Mass

Marcela Carena

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

The Standard Model of particle physics, describes with high precision how all known fundamental particles interact via the strong, weak and electromagnetic forces. There is, however, a crucial open question: what is the dynamics of electroweak symmetry breaking that allows most of the fundamental particles to acquire their observed masses? The preferred explanation requires the existence of an additional particle, the Higgs boson, which has not yet been observed. I will summarize our present theoretical understanding in the quest for electroweak symmetry breaking as well as the past, present and future planned efforts, at the major accelerator laboratories in the world, in the search for the Higgs particle. Experiments at Fermilab and CERN will provide crucial tests of the mechanism of mass generation in the next few years.

11:30 a.m., Smith Laboratory, Room 1094

Refreshments served in Smith 1094 at 11:00 a.m.