The Higgs Particle: what is it, and why did it lead to a Nobel Prize in Physics?

TL;DR

This paper explains the Higgs mechanism, its role in giving particles mass, and discusses the recent experimental discovery of the Higgs particle at CERN that earned the 2013 Nobel Prize.

Contribution

It provides a simplified explanation of the Higgs mechanism and highlights the significance of the recent discovery in particle physics.

Findings

Observation of the Higgs particle at CERN

Confirmation of the Higgs mechanism's role in particle mass

Awarding of the 2013 Nobel Prize for this discovery

Abstract

Back in 1964, the theoretical physicists Francois Englert and Robert Brout, as well as Peter Higgs, suggested an explanation for the fact that most elementary particles - such as the electron - have a mass. This scenario predicted a new particle, which has been observed experimentally only just now at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research). This discovery led to the Physics Nobel Prize 2013. Here we sketch in simple terms the concept of the Higgs mechanism, and its importance in particle physics.