Key Developments in Particle and Nuclear Physics for 2024: Honoring Achievements and Advancing Frontiers

Particle and nuclear physics, the fields dedicated to understanding the fundamental building blocks of the universe and their interactions, continue to push the boundaries of human knowledge. As we step into 2024, the scientific community celebrates groundbreaking achievements while setting its sights on new frontiers. From advancements in experimental techniques to theoretical breakthroughs, this year promises to be a pivotal one for the field. Below, we explore some of the key developments shaping particle and nuclear physics in 2024.

1. The Higgs Boson: A Decade of Discovery and New Insights

This year marks the 12th anniversary of the discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Since its detection in 2012, the Higgs boson has been a cornerstone of the Standard Model of particle physics. In 2024, researchers are delving deeper into the properties of this elusive particle, with a focus on its interactions with other particles and its potential role in physics beyond the Standard Model.

The High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC), which began its upgraded operations in late 2023, is expected to deliver unprecedented amounts of data this year. Scientists are particularly interested in rare decay channels of the Higgs boson, which could reveal subtle deviations from Standard Model predictions. Such deviations might hint at new physics, such as supersymmetry or extra dimensions.

2. Neutrino Physics: Shedding Light on the Ghost Particles

Neutrinos, often referred to as "ghost particles" due to their weak interactions with matter, remain one of the most enigmatic particles in the universe. In 2024, major neutrino experiments are making strides in understanding their properties.

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), an international collaboration led by Fermilab, is progressing toward its first data collection phase. DUNE aims to answer fundamental questions about neutrino oscillations, the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe, and the potential existence of sterile neutrinos. Meanwhile, Japan's Hyper-Kamiokande experiment, set to begin operations in 2027, is undergoing critical preparations this year, with researchers refining detector technologies and simulation models.

3. Quantum Chromodynamics and the Quark-Gluon Plasma

The study of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the theory describing the strong nuclear force, continues to be a vibrant area of research. In 2024, heavy-ion collision experiments at the LHC and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) are providing new insights into the quark-gluon plasma (QGP), a state of matter that existed microseconds after the Big Bang.

Recent results from the ALICE experiment at the LHC have revealed surprising properties of QGP, such as its near-perfect fluidity and its ability to flow at extremely

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