Higgs Boson vs Dark Matter
Higgs boson and dark matter are two concepts discussed in physics and related fields. Higgs boson is a subatomic particle whereas dark matter is a form of matter which is undetectable. Both of these concepts are widely used in fields such as particle physics, nuclear physics, astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and various other fields. In this article, we are going to discuss what dark matter and Higgs boson are, their applications, the definitions of Higgs boson and dark matter, the properties of these two, the similarities between these two and finally the difference between Higgs boson and dark matter.
What is Dark Matter?
In cosmology and astronomy, dark matter means any form of matter that is not detectable through optical or radio telescopes. What telescopes see is the emitted, reflected or scattered light or other forms of electromagnetic waves. If some form of matter does not emit, scatter, or reflect light and other electromagnetic waves, those forms of matter are classified as dark matter. For now, it is only through the gravitational effects the presence of dark matter can be predicted.
There are several gravitational methods to detect and estimate the amount of dark matter in a system. One method is to use the gravitational lensing of the background radiation from the dark matter to estimate the amount of dark matter present. For galaxies and galaxy clusters, galactic rotations, attractions, and collisions can be used to determine the amount of dark matter present. According to the observations based on large structures of the observable universe based on Friedmann equations and the FLRW metric, it has been estimated that dark matter accounts for about 23 percent of the total mass – energy density of the observable universe whereas ordinary matter only contributes approximately 4.6 percent for the mass – energy density of the observable universe. The amount of dark matter in the universe plays a major role in deciding the expansion rate and thereby the future of the universe.
What is Higgs Boson Particle?
Higgs boson is a type of a hypothetical subatomic particle described in particle physics. The Higgs boson has no electric charge, no color charge, and no spin. This particle was first proposed by Peter Higgs. The Higgs boson is very important in describing the symmetry of interactions of subatomic particles. This particle also explains the Higgs field which is responsible for all subatomic particles for acquiring mass. A particle, which has properties consistent to the Higgs boson, was observed on 4th of July, 2012. However, this is not confirmed as the Higgs boson on the time of writing.
What is the difference between Dark Matter and Higgs Boson?
• Dark matter is a type of matter which is not detectable with our usual equipment. Higgs boson is a type of subatomic particle, which is yet to be confirmed.
• Dark matter is a stable form of mass whereas the Higgs boson is very unstable and decays fast.