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The rest mass of Higgs boson estimated to be close to

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CDS 2 2024 Maths Question Paper (01-Sep-2024)
The correct answer is

100 GeV

Higgs Boson Rest Mass Estimation

The Higgs boson is a fundamental particle recognized for its role in the Standard Model of particle physics. It is associated with the Higgs field, which imparts mass to other elementary particles like quarks and W and Z bosons. Understanding the characteristics of the Higgs boson, particularly its rest mass, is vital for confirming theoretical predictions in physics.

Understanding Particle Rest Mass and Units

The rest mass of a particle is its inherent mass when it is stationary. This intrinsic property is linked to the particle's total energy when at rest, famously described by Albert Einstein's mass-energy equivalence formula, \(E=mc^2\). In the realm of particle physics, mass is commonly measured in units of energy, such as electronvolts (eV), Mega-electronvolts (MeV), or Giga-electronvolts (GeV). Note that \(1 \text{ GeV} = 10^9 \text{ eV}\) and \(1 \text{ GeV} = 1000 \text{ MeV}\).

Evaluating the Options for Higgs Boson Mass

The Higgs boson's experimentally determined rest mass is approximately $125$ GeV. Let's analyze the provided options in comparison to this established value:

  • Option 1: 0.5 MeV
    To compare this value, we convert it to GeV. Since \(1 \text{ GeV} = 1000 \text{ MeV}\), \(0.5 \text{ MeV}\) is equal to \(0.5 / 1000 \text{ GeV}\), which is \(0.0005 \text{ GeV}\). This value is substantially less than the known mass of the Higgs boson.
  • Option 2: 900 MeV
    Converting this measurement to GeV gives us \(900 \text{ MeV} = 900 / 1000 \text{ GeV} = 0.9 \text{ GeV}\). This quantity is also significantly smaller than the Higgs boson's actual rest mass.
  • Option 3: 100 GeV
    This option, $100$ GeV, is quite close to the experimentally measured value of approximately $125$ GeV. It represents a reasonable approximation among the choices.
  • Option 4: 1000 GeV
    This value is equivalent to $1$ TeV (Tera-electronvolt). While the Higgs boson's mass falls within the GeV energy scale, $1000$ GeV is considerably higher than its measured rest mass of $125$ GeV.

Conclusion on Higgs Boson Mass Approximation

By comparing the given options with the accepted experimental value of the Higgs boson's rest mass, which is around $125$ GeV, the closest estimate provided is $100$ GeV. Therefore, $100$ GeV is the most fitting approximation among the choices presented.

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