The potential of the Higgs boson

The Higgs field, which fills the universe, gives elementary particles their mass through a unique quantum property called the Higgs potential. The shape of this potential, similar to the bottom of a wine bottle, is critically linked to how two Higgs bosons interact with each other. Utilising advanced machine learning techniques at all layers of the analysis chain in the ATLAS detector at CERN – in data selection, data reconstruction and through global optimisation – the team can improve the search for two Higgs bosons to the point where they can provide the first evidence for this incredibly rare process. This will allow them to better understand not only the Higgs field, but also the origin and ultimate fate of our universe.

ENW-XL

"The potential of the Higgs boson", led by Pamela Ferrari (Nikhef/RU), involves UvA-IoP researchers Clara Nellist, Ivo van Vulpen, Flavia de Almeida Dias and Wouter Verkerke. In the round Open Competition Domain Science-XL 2023-2024, a total of 21 research projects were awarded. Nikhef was particularly succesful in this round, with two further projects in which the institute is involved also being granted.