What is Charge? Understanding the Fundamental Property of Particles

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of charge as a fundamental property of particles, exploring its definition, implications, and relationships with other physical properties such as mass and energy. Participants delve into theoretical frameworks, including inflation theory and super-string theory, while examining the nature of charge in the context of particle interactions and quantum field theory.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that charge is a property of particles, similar to mass and energy, which requires axioms for a comprehensive description.
  • There is a discussion on inflation theory and super-string theory, suggesting that mass and charge may be defined by particle interactions and vibrational patterns, respectively, though uncertainty remains regarding these concepts.
  • One participant questions whether charge could be analogous to the Higgs boson, pondering the nature of charge and its effects, particularly in relation to energy and mass.
  • Another participant describes charge as a coupling constant in electromagnetic interactions, noting that it can vary with energy scales and is influenced by virtual particles in quantum field theory.
  • There is a proposal for a Higgs-like field for charges, with some participants expressing skepticism about the relationship between the Higgs mechanism and charge generation.
  • A question is raised regarding the implications of the Pauli exclusion principle for fermions with different charges, particularly in scenarios of weak coupling constants.
  • One participant emphasizes that charge is a conserved quantity across all four fundamental interactions, linking it to U(1) gauge invariance and the charged components of the Higgs field.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the nature of charge, its relationship to mass and energy, and the applicability of various theoretical frameworks. There is no consensus on the mechanisms behind charge or its fundamental nature, indicating ongoing debate and exploration.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various theoretical models and concepts, but there are limitations in the clarity of definitions and assumptions regarding charge, mass, and their interactions. The discussion reflects a complex interplay of ideas without definitive resolutions.

Yaaks
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'Charge' is a property defined in particles. How do we say, for eg; 'Electron is negatively charged.' ?
What is Charge? :confused:
 
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weve talked about this before. when u tell me what mass and energy acctualy are I am going to tell you what charge is.

you simple have to exept that charge, mass and energy are propeties that particles have. we need a few axioms to describe everything
 
Yeah, i believe so...
Inflation theory suggests that Mass is a property defined by particle interactions with the Higgs boson..
Super-String theory says all these properties are defined by the vibrational patterns of the strings..
but, there is a bit of uncertainity here which is beyond physical knowledge..
 
thats just a theory, but then why do the higgs boson create the effect we feel as mass? can't then charge be a particle like the higgs boson? but then what makes it give the effect of a charge? is energy a particle as well that collect around things that have energy? and if the higgs boson effect it must exist different amount of higgs bosons around each object, cause the mass increase with the speed and the speed is relative to the observer. so for one observer it might be 5 billion higgs around a particle but then 50 billion for a observer that is at movement relative to the particle. and so on.
 
charge is just the coupling constant of the EM interaction. It expresses the strength of the EM interaction. Charge can change depending on what energy scale you look at the EM phenomena. This is why you have both bare charge and dressed (ie the charge we measure) charge. These concepts arise from perturbation theory in quantum field theory where a particle is surrounded by virtual particles that are a direct manifestation of the particle's interactions going on...

regards
marlon
 
If you can formulate a theory for HIGGS-LIKE field for charges, YOU WILL BE VERY VERY FAMOUS. INDEED, MORE FAMOUS THAN HIGGS!
 
samalkhaiat said:
If you can formulate a theory for HIGGS-LIKE field for charges, YOU WILL BE VERY VERY FAMOUS. INDEED, MORE FAMOUS THAN HIGGS!

What are you talking about ?

The Higgs system does apply on charges, you know ?

marlon
 
I have seen particle without charge, but I never seen or heard about charge without particle. Have you? Higgs mechanism is about generating mass through spontaneous symmetry breaking. "you start with massless particles you end up with massive ones"
Charges generating mechanism through Higgs? are you joking?
 
samalkhaiat said:
Charges generating mechanism through Higgs?

Who ever said that ?

I do not know where you got this but you must have misinterpreted somebody's words here. Again, i ask you what your point is ?

marlon
 
  • #10
A subtle, related thing. Suppose that you have two fermions of different charges but similar in all the other aspects. What does it happens with Pauli Principle?

My guess is that you can distinguish both particles and then it does not apply. But then, what does it happen in the limit of very weak coupling constants. Ie the particles have nominally different charge but such difference does not have dynamical effect. Does Pauli switch on? How?
 
  • #11
READ POST#4 AND YOUR POST #7. My point is that; charge is elementary physical concept. It is a coserved number in all four interactions of nature,this is because of the U(1) Gauge-invariance. The Higgs field itself has charged components. And as you correctly stated in post #5 it measures the strenth (coupling) of The EM interaction.
 

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