Getting to Higgs

Sample Z event picture

Event pictures record the magnitude and angle of particle momentum. Look for these event picture features: A. Pink energy signals (rectangular boxes) with straight-line tracks headed toward them. It's an electron or positron. B. One large pink energy signal and two straight-line tracks, one headed toward this signal, the other headed toward a small black signal. C. More than two large pink energy signals. One is less pronounced, with low neighboring energy signals and several tracks. Also, look for the single straight-line tracks headed toward the pink signals. It's a jet! D. A red arrow. It's a neutrino drawn in by the computer. E. The angle between tracks. Let's practice! We have provided 29 event pictures from Fermilab's Run I. Get the data from your teacher.

Choose one or more event picture features with which to sort your data. (You can easily measure the angle between the straight-line tracks with a protractor.) Remember we are interested in jets, neutrinos, electrons and positrons. Can you sort for Ws, Zs or Higgs? Compare your results your classmates.

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