The Higgs field and the associated Higgs boson were discovered at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in 2012, and their discovery completed the framework of the Standard Model of particle physics. While the Higgs mechanism has been successfully incorporated into the theory, there are still several unanswered questions and mysteries surrounding the Higgs field. Some of these mysteries include:
Origin and Nature: The Higgs field's origin and why it has the specific properties it does remain unknown. Its existence and interactions are described by the Higgs mechanism, but the fundamental reasons for its existence and its role in particle mass generation are still not fully understood.
Hierarchy Problem: The Higgs field's mass is significantly lighter than the Planck scale, which represents the energy scale at which gravity becomes important. This stark difference in energy scales creates a theoretical challenge known as the hierarchy problem. Explaining why the Higgs mass is so much lighter than the Planck scale requires additional physics beyond the Standard Model.
Dark Matter Connection: Although the Higgs boson is not directly related to dark matter, its discovery has sparked investigations into its potential connections. Some theories suggest that interactions between the Higgs field and dark matter particles may exist, offering a potential avenue for understanding the nature of dark matter.
Unification of Forces: The Standard Model describes three of the fundamental forces in the universe: electromagnetism, the weak force, and the strong force. However, these forces remain distinct and separate within the model. The Higgs field's role in electroweak symmetry breaking, which gives mass to the W and Z bosons, raises questions about the unification of forces and the potential existence of a more fundamental theory.
Supersymmetry: Supersymmetry is a theoretical framework that proposes a new symmetry between fermions (matter particles) and bosons (force-carrying particles). Many theories incorporating supersymmetry predict the existence of additional Higgs particles beyond the one discovered. The absence of these additional Higgs particles at the LHC has raised questions about the viability of certain supersymmetric models.
Addressing these mysteries requires further research, both theoretical and experimental, beyond the capabilities of current particle physics experiments. Future experiments, such as upgrades to the LHC or the construction of new colliders, may shed light on these unanswered questions and deepen our understanding of the Higgs field and its implications for the fundamental nature of the universe.