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A journey through elementary particles | Antonio Rago | TEDxPlymouthUniversity


good evening my name is Antonia Ragland

good evening my name is Antonia Ragland um

um

um theoretical physicist and I’m here

theoretical physicist and I’m here

theoretical physicist and I’m here tonight to tell all of you how

tonight to tell all of you how

tonight to tell all of you how successful physicists are in describing

successful physicists are in describing

successful physicists are in describing everything ranging from the size of

everything ranging from the size of

everything ranging from the size of elementary particle up to the size of

elementary particle up to the size of

elementary particle up to the size of the entire universe or maybe I’m gonna

the entire universe or maybe I’m gonna

the entire universe or maybe I’m gonna tell you what we just don’t understand

tell you what we just don’t understand

tell you what we just don’t understand ok let’s start tonight I’m gonna tell

ok let’s start tonight I’m gonna tell

ok let’s start tonight I’m gonna tell you about just two of the most beautiful

you about just two of the most beautiful

you about just two of the most beautiful theories physicists have created the

theories physicists have created the

theories physicists have created the last one is the standard model it

last one is the standard model it

last one is the standard model it describe the interaction of every single

describe the interaction of every single

describe the interaction of every single elementary particle and their

elementary particle and their

elementary particle and their interactions is it electromagnetics like

interactions is it electromagnetics like

interactions is it electromagnetics like Latrese it you’re the light that comes

Latrese it you’re the light that comes

Latrese it you’re the light that comes from the Sun weak the force responsible

from the Sun weak the force responsible

from the Sun weak the force responsible for radioactive decay or force that is

for radioactive decay or force that is

for radioactive decay or force that is strong the force that keeps together

strong the force that keeps together

strong the force that keeps together nuclear matter or in the other case I

nuclear matter or in the other case I

nuclear matter or in the other case I will tell you about the masterpiece of

will tell you about the masterpiece of

will tell you about the masterpiece of Albert Einstein general relativity the

Albert Einstein general relativity the

Albert Einstein general relativity the theory that tells our energy and matter

theory that tells our energy and matter

theory that tells our energy and matter act on space and time banding them to

act on space and time banding them to

act on space and time banding them to give rise to gravity these two are two

give rise to gravity these two are two

give rise to gravity these two are two terrible predictive theories they are

terrible predictive theories they are

terrible predictive theories they are capable of making prediction out of

capable of making prediction out of

capable of making prediction out of measurement as precise as ten million of

measurement as precise as ten million of

measurement as precise as ten million of millions in precision imagine you make a

millions in precision imagine you make a

millions in precision imagine you make a measurement and then you can predict

measurement and then you can predict

measurement and then you can predict this measurement for 13 digits of

this measurement for 13 digits of

this measurement for 13 digits of precision is impressive yet I’m a

precision is impressive yet I’m a

precision is impressive yet I’m a physicist and as such and as my

physicist and as such and as my

physicist and as such and as my community dollars we go around to look

community dollars we go around to look

community dollars we go around to look for pitfalls in our theories so we’ll be

for pitfalls in our theories so we’ll be

for pitfalls in our theories so we’ll be thus paramount and in order to study the

thus paramount and in order to study the

thus paramount and in order to study the first of these theories we built the LHC

first of these theories we built the LHC

first of these theories we built the LHC is the most gigantic experiment ever

is the most gigantic experiment ever

is the most gigantic experiment ever built on earth it’s a ring just a ring

built on earth it’s a ring just a ring

built on earth it’s a ring just a ring 27 kilometers

27 kilometers

27 kilometers buried hundred-meter under the ground

buried hundred-meter under the ground

buried hundred-meter under the ground LHC is in Geneva and what it does it

LHC is in Geneva and what it does it

LHC is in Geneva and what it does it just accelerate a bunch of protons up to

just accelerate a bunch of protons up to

just accelerate a bunch of protons up to a speed at ISA 99.999999 1% speed of

a speed at ISA 99.999999 1% speed of

a speed at ISA 99.999999 1% speed of light and he makes it collide against

light and he makes it collide against

light and he makes it collide against another bunch of proton that is rotating

another bunch of proton that is rotating

another bunch of proton that is rotating in the opposite direction like this and

in the opposite direction like this and

in the opposite direction like this and we just look for the outcome of this

we just look for the outcome of this

we just look for the outcome of this collision you may think of this as

collision you may think of this as

collision you may think of this as taking two car as much in time together

taking two car as much in time together

taking two car as much in time together and then going around and looking for

and then going around and looking for

and then going around and looking for the outcome

the outcome

the outcome oh this is a wheel ok walks more relaxed

oh this is a wheel ok walks more relaxed

oh this is a wheel ok walks more relaxed like oh it doesn’t work too well there

like oh it doesn’t work too well there

like oh it doesn’t work too well there is something strange of particle physics

is something strange of particle physics

is something strange of particle physics we know very well that when we collide

we know very well that when we collide

we know very well that when we collide two particles it may happen that you end

two particles it may happen that you end

two particles it may happen that you end up with a third particle that is

up with a third particle that is

up with a third particle that is actually heavier than the two original

actually heavier than the two original

actually heavier than the two original particles and no one here hopes that you

particles and no one here hopes that you

particles and no one here hopes that you takes two voxel car you smash them

takes two voxel car you smash them

takes two voxel car you smash them together and you get two Ferrari ok it

together and you get two Ferrari ok it

together and you get two Ferrari ok it works like that for particle physics so

works like that for particle physics so

works like that for particle physics so we switch on the LHC and we start one

we switch on the LHC and we start one

we switch on the LHC and we start one out of the other to find all known

out of the other to find all known

out of the other to find all known particles up to the last one and the

particles up to the last one and the

particles up to the last one and the entire physics community is super

entire physics community is super

entire physics community is super excited yeah every time we find a

excited yeah every time we find a

excited yeah every time we find a particle we are super excited knowing

particle we are super excited knowing

particle we are super excited knowing this one is special is the Higgs boson

this one is special is the Higgs boson

this one is special is the Higgs boson you may have heard of it as when he was

you may have heard of it as when he was

you may have heard of it as when he was discovered in 2012 it had a great huge

discovered in 2012 it had a great huge

discovered in 2012 it had a great huge really media coverage the special

really media coverage the special

really media coverage the special property of the Higgs is that it emits a

property of the Higgs is that it emits a

property of the Higgs is that it emits a field

field

field what’s a field we all have an experience

what’s a field we all have an experience

what’s a field we all have an experience of a field whenever you take a magnet

of a field whenever you take a magnet

of a field whenever you take a magnet and a piece of metal you will feel that

and a piece of metal you will feel that

and a piece of metal you will feel that the magnet and piece of metal are

the magnet and piece of metal are

the magnet and piece of metal are attracting each other this is the result

attracting each other this is the result

attracting each other this is the result of the magnetic field

of the magnetic field

of the magnetic field well the Higgs field is something

well the Higgs field is something

well the Higgs field is something similar with major difference is that

similar with major difference is that

similar with major difference is that the Higgs field

the Higgs field

the Higgs field percolates the entire universe and it’s

percolates the entire universe and it’s

percolates the entire universe and it’s just by mean of the interaction with the

just by mean of the interaction with the

just by mean of the interaction with the higgs field that every single elementary

higgs field that every single elementary

higgs field that every single elementary particle get mass hard to imagine no

particle get mass hard to imagine no

particle get mass hard to imagine no wait it’s easy think of the higgs field

wait it’s easy think of the higgs field

wait it’s easy think of the higgs field as a gigantic pond of trickle the more

as a gigantic pond of trickle the more

as a gigantic pond of trickle the more you interact with the trickle the

you interact with the trickle the

you interact with the trickle the heavier you are the less you interact

heavier you are the less you interact

heavier you are the less you interact with a trickle the lighter you are so

with a trickle the lighter you are so

with a trickle the lighter you are so you may understand that as this Higgs

you may understand that as this Higgs

you may understand that as this Higgs field is at the basis of the mass of the

field is at the basis of the mass of the

field is at the basis of the mass of the entire set of elementary particle we

entire set of elementary particle we

entire set of elementary particle we really need it is the cornerstone of our

really need it is the cornerstone of our

really need it is the cornerstone of our building at the standard model it was

building at the standard model it was

building at the standard model it was predicted and we needed it to build the

predicted and we needed it to build the

predicted and we needed it to build the standard model so in the end when we

standard model so in the end when we

standard model so in the end when we found it we were very excited but as

found it we were very excited but as

found it we were very excited but as soon as we found it in our mathematical

soon as we found it in our mathematical

soon as we found it in our mathematical understanding we already knew that there

understanding we already knew that there

understanding we already knew that there was something wrong indeed the Higgs

was something wrong indeed the Higgs

was something wrong indeed the Higgs field in our opinion is either on or off

field in our opinion is either on or off

field in our opinion is either on or off and when I mean off I mean zero nothing

and when I mean off I mean zero nothing

and when I mean off I mean zero nothing now no way and when I mean on is

now no way and when I mean on is

now no way and when I mean on is terribly on and instead we measured it

terribly on and instead we measured it

terribly on and instead we measured it what we discovered that the Higgs field

what we discovered that the Higgs field

what we discovered that the Higgs field is an either or nor off it’s actually

is an either or nor off it’s actually

is an either or nor off it’s actually you know this switch that cannot switch

you know this switch that cannot switch

you know this switch that cannot switch off properly it’s a bit broken sweetie

off properly it’s a bit broken sweetie

off properly it’s a bit broken sweetie honest with you this is a what luck

honest with you this is a what luck

honest with you this is a what luck since should the Higgs field ever had

since should the Higgs field ever had

since should the Higgs field ever had the value that is in any way different

the value that is in any way different

the value that is in any way different from its actual value all the known

from its actual value all the known

from its actual value all the known matter would collapse in point-like

matter would collapse in point-like

matter would collapse in point-like objects hmm not too bad for someone who

objects hmm not too bad for someone who

objects hmm not too bad for someone who started saying we do understand

started saying we do understand

started saying we do understand everything okay maybe I should have been

everything okay maybe I should have been

everything okay maybe I should have been more humble and say we’re very good in

more humble and say we’re very good in

more humble and say we’re very good in particle physics and but we don’t know

particle physics and but we don’t know

particle physics and but we don’t know where the mass come from and the energy

where the mass come from and the energy

where the mass come from and the energy of the particle and their origin mmm

of the particle and their origin mmm

of the particle and their origin mmm wait that’s just the first of the open

wait that’s just the first of the open

wait that’s just the first of the open question of tonight maybe it’s gonna get

question of tonight maybe it’s gonna get

question of tonight maybe it’s gonna get worse I spoke about two theories and the

worse I spoke about two theories and the

worse I spoke about two theories and the second theory is the theory of

second theory is the theory of

second theory is the theory of relativity Albert Einstein and when I

relativity Albert Einstein and when I

relativity Albert Einstein and when I speak about relativity I think about the

speak about relativity I think about the

speak about relativity I think about the gravity saw interaction of planets stars

gravity saw interaction of planets stars

gravity saw interaction of planets stars galaxies clusters

galaxies clusters

galaxies clusters and what do you do as aspera meant is

and what do you do as aspera meant is

and what do you do as aspera meant is just you take a picture of the sky in

just you take a picture of the sky in

just you take a picture of the sky in all the possible different

all the possible different

all the possible different electromagnetic ranges but it’s just the

electromagnetic ranges but it’s just the

electromagnetic ranges but it’s just the picture of the sky this is for example

picture of the sky this is for example

picture of the sky this is for example the gaia telescope and what we do is we

the gaia telescope and what we do is we

the gaia telescope and what we do is we just take this picture and we classify

just take this picture and we classify

just take this picture and we classify our findings this is a galaxy this is a

our findings this is a galaxy this is a

our findings this is a galaxy this is a star and you may end up finding

star and you may end up finding

star and you may end up finding something like this beautiful isn’t it

something like this beautiful isn’t it

something like this beautiful isn’t it it’s a rotating galaxy it’s an object

it’s a rotating galaxy it’s an object

it’s a rotating galaxy it’s an object that contains something between 1

that contains something between 1

that contains something between 1 million and 1 billion of stars and that

million and 1 billion of stars and that

million and 1 billion of stars and that is a scale you cannot distinguish what

is a scale you cannot distinguish what

is a scale you cannot distinguish what the solar system is and what is

the solar system is and what is

the solar system is and what is interesting of this object is that it

interesting of this object is that it

interesting of this object is that it rotates around its axis and out of

rotates around its axis and out of

rotates around its axis and out of everyday experience we would expect that

everyday experience we would expect that

everyday experience we would expect that as the vast majority of mass is in the

as the vast majority of mass is in the

as the vast majority of mass is in the middle the speed of rotation of the

middle the speed of rotation of the

middle the speed of rotation of the middle should be higher than the speed

middle should be higher than the speed

middle should be higher than the speed of rotation of the object that are

of rotation of the object that are

of rotation of the object that are further out let me give you as usual an

further out let me give you as usual an

further out let me give you as usual an example think of a cappuccino ok you

example think of a cappuccino ok you

example think of a cappuccino ok you look at the foam and you start to stir

look at the foam and you start to stir

look at the foam and you start to stir it with your teaspoon the foam in the

it with your teaspoon the foam in the

it with your teaspoon the foam in the middle we spin faster than the foam

middle we spin faster than the foam

middle we spin faster than the foam closer to the border okay it has to work

closer to the border okay it has to work

closer to the border okay it has to work like that more or less so we went there

like that more or less so we went there

like that more or less so we went there and we measure it and what we found was

and we measure it and what we found was

and we measure it and what we found was a surprise yeah what we found was that

a surprise yeah what we found was that

a surprise yeah what we found was that the speed of rotation is the same in the

the speed of rotation is the same in the

the speed of rotation is the same in the middle and out no wait this is wrong we

middle and out no wait this is wrong we

middle and out no wait this is wrong we can’t understand it it is so wrong that

can’t understand it it is so wrong that

can’t understand it it is so wrong that we have to imagine that there is

we have to imagine that there is

we have to imagine that there is something hidden in that picture that

something hidden in that picture that

something hidden in that picture that I’m not seeing there must be something

I’m not seeing there must be something

I’m not seeing there must be something else in this picture but I can’t see it

else in this picture but I can’t see it

else in this picture but I can’t see it so I call it the dark weight whenever a

so I call it the dark weight whenever a

so I call it the dark weight whenever a physicist tells you dark it mostly mean

physicist tells you dark it mostly mean

physicist tells you dark it mostly mean we don’t understand it

we don’t understand it

we don’t understand it ok so dark no we don’t understand it

ok so dark no we don’t understand it

ok so dark no we don’t understand it good anyway let’s assume that there is

good anyway let’s assume that there is

good anyway let’s assume that there is something dark and is interacting

something dark and is interacting

something dark and is interacting gravitationally so

gravitationally so

gravitationally so Dark Matter let’s count how much that

Dark Matter let’s count how much that

Dark Matter let’s count how much that matter do I need in order for the galaxy

matter do I need in order for the galaxy

matter do I need in order for the galaxy to spin to rotate properly okay very

to spin to rotate properly okay very

to spin to rotate properly okay very good I can do the calculation and scale

good I can do the calculation and scale

good I can do the calculation and scale it up to the size of the entire universe

it up to the size of the entire universe

it up to the size of the entire universe is that oh my god

is that oh my god

is that oh my god bright matter the matter that we know

bright matter the matter that we know

bright matter the matter that we know that they have described it so far with

that they have described it so far with

that they have described it so far with my beautiful theories is just 15 percent

my beautiful theories is just 15 percent

my beautiful theories is just 15 percent of the balance of mass of the entire

of the balance of mass of the entire

of the balance of mass of the entire universe I need a chance to explain the

universe I need a chance to explain the

universe I need a chance to explain the rotating structure and 85% of dark

rotating structure and 85% of dark

rotating structure and 85% of dark matter not too bad

matter not too bad

matter not too bad we do understand everything I said the

we do understand everything I said the

we do understand everything I said the three open question okay

three open question okay

three open question okay a third point that I want to tell you

a third point that I want to tell you

a third point that I want to tell you about is that what we believe and what

about is that what we believe and what

about is that what we believe and what we have actually measured very precisely

we have actually measured very precisely

we have actually measured very precisely is that our universe is expanding if I

is that our universe is expanding if I

is that our universe is expanding if I measure and if I look at every other

measure and if I look at every other

measure and if I look at every other point and object that is around me I

point and object that is around me I

point and object that is around me I will see it going away how do I

will see it going away how do I

will see it going away how do I understand that well in our opinion what

understand that well in our opinion what

understand that well in our opinion what it happen is that more or less 14

it happen is that more or less 14

it happen is that more or less 14 billions of years ago everything all the

billions of years ago everything all the

billions of years ago everything all the structure was collapse in a single point

structure was collapse in a single point

structure was collapse in a single point in space and time and then a fluctuation

in space and time and then a fluctuation

in space and time and then a fluctuation an explosion gave rise to all the known

an explosion gave rise to all the known

an explosion gave rise to all the known structure starting from a small blob of

structure starting from a small blob of

structure starting from a small blob of very energetic hot and dense plasma that

very energetic hot and dense plasma that

very energetic hot and dense plasma that then eventually fly out of the explosion

then eventually fly out of the explosion

then eventually fly out of the explosion very good it makes sense out of an

very good it makes sense out of an

very good it makes sense out of an explosion you are sitting on a piece of

explosion you are sitting on a piece of

explosion you are sitting on a piece of debris call it earth and you’re looking

debris call it earth and you’re looking

debris call it earth and you’re looking around you and everything is going away

around you and everything is going away

around you and everything is going away fine it works good wait what aspect

fine it works good wait what aspect

fine it works good wait what aspect should that be the case is that all

should that be the case is that all

should that be the case is that all these bits and pieces are interacting

these bits and pieces are interacting

these bits and pieces are interacting only gravitationally good but I would

only gravitationally good but I would

only gravitationally good but I would respect that the relative speed with

respect that the relative speed with

respect that the relative speed with respect to every other object I see

respect to every other object I see

respect to every other object I see around should decrease let me give an

around should decrease let me give an

around should decrease let me give an example consider for a moment a stone a

example consider for a moment a stone a

example consider for a moment a stone a pebble from the beach the earth interact

pebble from the beach the earth interact

pebble from the beach the earth interact okay they attract each other

okay they attract each other

okay they attract each other gravitationally and let’s see

gravitationally and let’s see

gravitationally and let’s see imagine an explosion myself taking the

imagine an explosion myself taking the

imagine an explosion myself taking the stone and throwing it India okay what

stone and throwing it India okay what

stone and throwing it India okay what will happen is as soon as the stone

will happen is as soon as the stone

will happen is as soon as the stone leaves my hand the speed of the stone

leaves my hand the speed of the stone

leaves my hand the speed of the stone with respect to the hurt wind decrease

with respect to the hurt wind decrease

with respect to the hurt wind decrease will get slower and slower and

will get slower and slower and

will get slower and slower and eventually we stop and fall to the

eventually we stop and fall to the

eventually we stop and fall to the ground but this is only due to the fact

ground but this is only due to the fact

ground but this is only due to the fact that I’m not strong enough to throw the

that I’m not strong enough to throw the

that I’m not strong enough to throw the stone out of the influence of the

stone out of the influence of the

stone out of the influence of the gravitational field of the earth should

gravitational field of the earth should

gravitational field of the earth should have been strong enough the stone the

have been strong enough the stone the

have been strong enough the stone the earth yet I would expect that the

earth yet I would expect that the

earth yet I would expect that the relative speed of the stone with earth

relative speed of the stone with earth

relative speed of the stone with earth should decrease with time okay this is

should decrease with time okay this is

should decrease with time okay this is our expectation and then we can go and

our expectation and then we can go and

our expectation and then we can go and measure it and we can measure the speed

measure it and we can measure the speed

measure it and we can measure the speed of the expansion of the universe one

of the expansion of the universe one

of the expansion of the universe one billion of years ago and the speed of an

billion of years ago and the speed of an

billion of years ago and the speed of an expansion of the universe today and what

expansion of the universe today and what

expansion of the universe today and what we discover is that the speed of this

we discover is that the speed of this

we discover is that the speed of this function of the universe one be smaller

function of the universe one be smaller

function of the universe one be smaller than today wait smaller the universe is

than today wait smaller the universe is

than today wait smaller the universe is accelerating what’s going on I mean in

accelerating what’s going on I mean in

accelerating what’s going on I mean in order for something to be accelerating

order for something to be accelerating

order for something to be accelerating in an Ongina

in an Ongina

in an Ongina a propellor something that pulls out you

a propellor something that pulls out you

a propellor something that pulls out you from the interaction with the other

from the interaction with the other

from the interaction with the other bodies now it can be I don’t understand

bodies now it can be I don’t understand

bodies now it can be I don’t understand it okay I call it dark and that’s it but

it okay I call it dark and that’s it but

it okay I call it dark and that’s it but is a fueling this explosion so I call it

is a fueling this explosion so I call it

is a fueling this explosion so I call it dark energy very good

dark energy very good

dark energy very good terrible so he can go back to the

terrible so he can go back to the

terrible so he can go back to the drawing board I’m a physicist and they

drawing board I’m a physicist and they

drawing board I’m a physicist and they can evaluate how much dark energy do I

can evaluate how much dark energy do I

can evaluate how much dark energy do I need in such a way that the universe

need in such a way that the universe

need in such a way that the universe could expand the rate at which is

could expand the rate at which is

could expand the rate at which is responding and then I need to compare it

responding and then I need to compare it

responding and then I need to compare it with something and thanks again to

with something and thanks again to

with something and thanks again to Albert Einstein using the famous

Albert Einstein using the famous

Albert Einstein using the famous relation e equal MC square I can compare

relation e equal MC square I can compare

relation e equal MC square I can compare energy with mass so let me compare

energy with mass so let me compare

energy with mass so let me compare energy with let’s say the mass of the

energy with let’s say the mass of the

energy with let’s say the mass of the universe something comparable

universe something comparable

universe something comparable okay and what I discover is that in the

okay and what I discover is that in the

okay and what I discover is that in the balance of mass and energy of the entire

balance of mass and energy of the entire

balance of mass and energy of the entire universe what we know nowadays is the

universe what we know nowadays is the

universe what we know nowadays is the bright matter just 5% the dark matter

bright matter just 5% the dark matter

bright matter just 5% the dark matter the object that I need for the universe

the object that I need for the universe

the object that I need for the universe to rotate properly is 27% and what I

to rotate properly is 27% and what I

to rotate properly is 27% and what I need to let the universe accelerate

need to let the universe accelerate

need to let the universe accelerate properly dark energy is 68% now my talk

properly dark energy is 68% now my talk

properly dark energy is 68% now my talk and here as I clearly don’t have any

and here as I clearly don’t have any

and here as I clearly don’t have any answer for these three open question the

answer for these three open question the

answer for these three open question the origin of mass for the particles the

origin of mass for the particles the

origin of mass for the particles the nature of dark matter and the possible

nature of dark matter and the possible

nature of dark matter and the possible explanation for dark energy there are

explanation for dark energy there are

explanation for dark energy there are candidates theory candidates that could

candidates theory candidates that could

candidates theory candidates that could explain the origin of the mass there are

explain the origin of the mass there are

explain the origin of the mass there are possible matter candidates for the dark

possible matter candidates for the dark

possible matter candidates for the dark matter and there are possible

matter and there are possible

matter and there are possible explanation for the structure of dark

explanation for the structure of dark

explanation for the structure of dark energy but these are just theories that

energy but these are just theories that

energy but these are just theories that needs to be validated and maybe that’s

needs to be validated and maybe that’s

needs to be validated and maybe that’s the reason why it’s great to be a

the reason why it’s great to be a

the reason why it’s great to be a physicist today thank you very much

physicist today thank you very much

physicist today thank you very much [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] you

”

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