Higgsbosonen, standardmodellen och LHC

Abstract

This report aims to provide an insight into the particle physics of today, and into the research that goes on within the field. The focus is partly on the recent discovery of the Higgs boson, and partly on how software can be used to simulate processes in particle accelerators. Basic concepts of particle physics and the search for the Higgs boson are discussed, and experimental results, including those from the Large Hadron Collider, are compared with simulations made in MadGraph 5. Furthermore, simple new models of particle physics are created in FeynRules, in order to make simulations based on the models. To support the presentations of these aspects, some of the underlying theory is built from the ground up. Additionally, instructions are given on the usage of the programs FeynRules, for creation of models; MadGraph 5, for simulating processes in particle accelerators; and MadAnalysis 5, for data processing of the results obtained. The most significant results are simulations of processes commonly used for Higgs boson searches, with results in qualitative agreement with predictions and experimental data. The results also include consistent analytical and numerical calculations in a simple model with one particle.