The future of Particle Physics

Professor Daniela Bortoletto discusses the future of particle physics, reflecting on past predictions and the current state of the field. She opens by comparing the present moment to a panel from 2003, seven years before the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) began, and now seven years before its upgrade. The panel, chaired by Carlo Rubia, had discussed the standard model of particle physics, which was incomplete without the Higgs boson, a particle crucial for giving mass to other particles.

Bortoletto highlights the LHC's achievements, including the discovery of the Higgs boson and the precise measurements of its properties, which align with the standard model predictions. However, she notes that much about the Higgs remains unknown, particularly its interactions with lighter particles.

Looking forward, Bortoletto discusses the upcoming high-luminosity upgrade of the LHC and the potential for new physics beyond the standard model. She emphasises the importance of the Higgs boson in answering fundamental questions about the universe, such as the nature of dark matter and the weakness of gravity compared to other forces.

Professor Bortoletto also touches on future colliders, like the FCC and ILC, which aim to explore particle physics at higher energies and with greater precision. Bortoletto concludes by stressing the long timelines and significant costs associated with these projects but underscores their potential for groundbreaking discoveries and societal impact.