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The Strange Case Of The Monotonous Running Average

These days I am putting the finishing touches on a hybrid algorithm that optimizes a system (a...

Turning 60

Strange how time goes by. And strange I would say that, since I know time does not flow, it is...

On The Illusion Of Time And The Strange Economy Of Existence

I recently listened again to Richard Feynman explaining why the flowing of time is probably an...

RIP - Hans Jensen

Today I was saddened to hear of the passing of Hans Jensen, a physicist and former colleague in...

Tommaso Dorigo

Tommaso Dorigo is an experimental particle physicist, who works for the INFN at the University of Padova, and collaborates with the CMS and the SWGO experiments. He is the president of the Read More »

The SM Rules: Four Bets Won, $1200 Claimed

Jul 11 2012 | comment(s)

The path of the LHC experiments to the successful observation of a Higgs boson has not been the smoothest I could think of, with delays in construction, incidents, and the like; but we are finally there. And now, with over 10/fb of data fully analyzed and presented at ICHEP, we can take stock and draw the "summer 2012" picture on existing and non-existing subnuclear entities, the non-existing ones notably including SUSY particles and other new physics candidates which are periodically evoked by theorists to mend the shortcomings of the standard model.

Apology to my ATLAS Colleagues

Jul 10 2012 | comment(s)

I realize I owe an apology to my ATLAS colleagues.

In a post-Higgs-announcement article where I was listing some random "post-mortem" considerations, I wrote a paragraph which could be read as an accusation of malpractice in one of the recent ATLAS analyses. I was misled by the fact that I had no access to the details of the
actual results being shown at ICHEP on the matter -my information was partial and I was not sure whether it was public or not; it was second-hand and I had no way to check its real source.

My Two Pieces On The Higgs

Jul 06 2012 | comment(s)

Yesterday the Italian newspaper "Il Manifesto" featured two pieces written by yours truly on the discovery of the Higgs boson. I was delighted to have a chance to write for that newspaper, which has an illustrious history and is totally independent (and on the verge of being shut down). By the way, I must thank Peter Woit who suggested the reporters of the newspaper to contact me for the piece.

The articles are in Italian, but I can make an effort at translating them for you here.

Seeing the Higgs Everywhere

Jul 06 2012 | comment(s)

I am seeing H everywhere this morning ! The picture below was taken yesterday near CERN,

but today, upon walking to my department, I see H reflected on the front windows too...

Lagging Behind - Will answer in due time!

Jul 05 2012 | comment(s)

This is an apology and a promise - as every time there is a big event or deadline, everything else gets pushed down, creating a long backlog. My mailbox is in an awful state, and here too I am doing a very bad job answering questions. The fact that I will be driving for most of the day today, to get back to Venice, makes things worse.

I will get back to all your questions in due time, and update the ATLAS Higgs results post with graphs. Be patient, and sorry for that !

Sincerely,
Tommaso

Rolf Heuer: "I Think We Have It" !

Jul 04 2012 | comment(s)

Rolf is drawing the conclusions. He just asked the audience:

"I think we have it. Do you agree ?" And a roar of consensus fills the auditorium.

The slide says "The observation of a new particle consistent with a Higgs boson".

It is a historic milestone, but only the beginning.

A standing ovation follows. Then a connection with Melbourne, with the other auditorium applauding. Now questions in the CERN site ensuing.

Theorists take the stage, Higgs saying it is an extraordinary achievement for the lab, and that he is glad that it happened in his lifetime.

A very moving finale !