Why is the Higgs boson so difficult to detect? The Higgs field is thought to be what gives particles mass and thus is – Secondary 11

Question: Why is the Higgs boson so difficult to detect? The Higgs field is thought to be what gives particles mass and thus is ubiquitous throughout the Universe, so why is it so difficult to detect?
- Keywords:
  detection,
  field,
  higgs boson,
  mass,
  particle
Asked by jbiddles to Jemma, John, Katie, Lisa on 22 Jun 2012. This question was also asked by lgs10joneg.
- Jemma Ransom answered on 22 Jun 2012:
  
  Hi @jbiddles, great question.
  
  I’m not a physicist, so you might want to double check this with your physics teacher. My understanding is that the higgs field can only be detected when particles are approaching the speed of light which is why the Large Hadron Collider was built. The scientists there are now testing all the possible wavelengths that might corresspond with the Higgs field. Fingers crossed for them.
  
  Jemma

Question: Why is the Higgs boson so difficult to detect? The Higgs field is thought to be what gives particles mass and thus is ubiquitous throughout the Universe, so why is it so difficult to detect?