Higgs signal gains strength | Nature

Latest analyses from the Large Hadron Collider boosts case for particle. Reanalyses of existing data have pushed the overall Higgs signal up to 4.3σ. Credit: CMS Today the two main

experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s most powerful particle accelerator, submitted the results of their latest analyses. The new papers boost the case for December’s

announcement of a possible Higgs signal, but let’s not get too excited. First, there are no new data in there — the LHC stopped colliding protons back in November, and these latest results

are just rehashes of that earlier run. In the case of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS), physicists have been able to look at another possible kind of Higgs decay, and that allows them to

boost their Higgs signal from 2.5 sigma to 3.1 sigma. Taken together with data from the other detector, ATLAS, Higgs’ overall signal now unofficially stands at about 4.3 sigma. In other

words, if statistics are to be believed, then this signal has about a 99.996% chance of being right. It all sounds very convincing, but keep your hat on, because the fact is that statistical

coincidences happen every day. Over at Cosmic Variance, Sean Carroll points out that there is a 3.8 sigma signal in the Super Bowl coin toss. Does that mean that they’ve discovered a

super-partner to the bowl? No. (If you don’t get that joke, don’t worry, it was written only as punishment for those who would.) After the LHC starts again this spring, we’ll be much closer

to knowing what’s actually going on. Right now, scientists are meeting in Chamonix, France, to decide at what power to run the collider this coming year. The latest rumours are that the

machine will push from 7 to 8 teraelectronvolts, and it will also increase its luminosity (the number of collisions per pass). For a little more context about what’s going on, check out this

video of my trip back in November: Authors * Geoff Brumfiel View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This article was

first published on the _Nature_ News blog. RELATED VIDEO Hunting for the Higgs RELATED LINKS RELATED LINKS RELATED LINKS IN NATURE RESEARCH Higgs boson: The need for new physics 2012-Jan-04

New year, new science 2012-Jan-03 Higgs boson: The need for new physics 2011-Dec-18 Particle physics is at a turning point 2011-Dec-16 Detectors home in on Higgs boson 2011-Dec-13 The highs

and lows of the Higgs hunt 2011-Dec-12 RELATED EXTERNAL LINKS Large Hadron Collider Compact Muon Solenoid RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE

Brumfiel, G. Higgs signal gains strength. _Nature_ (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature.2012.9992 Download citation * Published: 07 February 2012 * DOI:

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