Contents
Peter Higgs
Proposing a mechanism that helps explain how elementary particles acquire mass.
Mass mechanism · Boson prediction
- Born
- 29 May 1929
- Birthplace
- Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
- Died
- 8 April 2024
More people
Peter Higgs
Peter Higgs was a British theoretical physicist who shared the 2013 Nobel Prize with François Englert.
Early life
Early inspiration
Developed an interest in theoretical physics while at school.
London training
Studied at King’s College London and completed a doctorate.
Career
- 1950s–1960s
Academic posts
Worked in London and Edinburgh.
- 1964
Symmetry-breaking proposal
Published work predicting a particle associated with the mechanism.
- 2012–2013
Experimental confirmation
CERN’s discovery of a Higgs-like boson was followed by the Nobel Prize.
Contributions
Mass mechanism
Contributed to a theoretical explanation for masses of elementary particles.
Boson prediction
Identified the particle associated with the proposed field.
Physics Nobel
Shared recognition after the CERN discovery.
Beyond physics
Public attention
Maintained a notably private life despite late international fame.
Edinburgh connection
Spent much of his academic career at the University of Edinburgh.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Nobel Prize: award and biography ↗Photo: Bengt Nyman. CC BY 2.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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