Neutrino as alternative to Higgs boson

In summary, the conversation discusses the possibility of the neutrino substituting for the Higgs boson in providing mass in the current Standard Model. However, this is not possible as the Higgs is a boson while the neutrino is a fermion, and their coupling constants are different. The neutrino's mass was only recently inferred and as such, there is no fundamental difference in the theory. The simple substitution of their roles is not feasible.
  • #1
Jack Bauer
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The Higgs boson was proposed to provide a mechanism for mass and is posited, as a field, to extend throughout the Universe. But this was before we started thinking the neutrino, which is also (almost) omnipresent, must have a mass. Could the neutrino substitute for the Higgs in this role?
 
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  • #2
In the current Standard Model, neutrinos get their mass from the Higgs, just like all the other fundamental particles do. The coupling constant has to be different for each particle in order to get different masses. So far, those coupling constants have no well-accepted "explanation." We simply choose their values to give us the observed masses.

Before we inferred non-zero neutrino mass from the discovery of neutrino oscillations, we set the neutrino-Higgs coupling constants to zero, to agree with experiment up to that point. Now we set them to non-zero values. There's no fundamental difference in the theory.
 
  • #3
Besides, the Higgs, as you can gather from its name, is a BOSON. A neutrino, it a FERMION. There's already a tremendous difference in physics between the two already. A simple substitution of each other's role is simply out of the question.

Zz.
 

FAQ: Neutrino as alternative to Higgs boson

What is a neutrino?

A neutrino is a subatomic particle that is electrically neutral and has very little mass. It is one of the fundamental particles in the Standard Model of particle physics.

How is a neutrino different from the Higgs boson?

The Higgs boson is a particle that gives other particles their mass, while the neutrino has a very small mass and does not interact with the Higgs field. Additionally, the Higgs boson is a scalar particle, while the neutrino is a fermion.

Why is the neutrino being considered as an alternative to the Higgs boson?

The neutrino is being studied as a potential alternative to the Higgs boson because it is one of the least understood particles in the Standard Model. By studying neutrinos, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of the fundamental forces and particles in the universe.

What are some potential applications of using neutrinos as an alternative to the Higgs boson?

One potential application is in the field of cosmology, where studying neutrinos could help us better understand the origins and evolution of the universe. Additionally, neutrinos could potentially be used in advanced technologies such as neutrino telescopes and neutrino-based communication systems.

Is there evidence to support the idea of using neutrinos as an alternative to the Higgs boson?

While there is still much research to be done, there have been several experiments and observations that support the idea of neutrinos playing a significant role in the universe and potentially being an alternative to the Higgs boson. For example, the discovery of neutrino oscillations and the measurement of neutrino mass have provided evidence for the importance of neutrinos in particle physics.

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