Higgs mechanism

In summary, the Higgs mechanism is a theoretical concept in particle physics that explains how particles acquire mass through interactions with a field called the Higgs field. It was first proposed by British physicist Peter Higgs in the 1960s and is important because it helps to explain why particles have mass and is a key component of the Standard Model. The Higgs mechanism works by giving particles mass through their interactions with the Higgs field and while it has not been directly proven, evidence for it was found in 2012 with the discovery of the Higgs boson particle at the Large Hadron Collider.
  • #1
touqra
287
0
Are there any other mechanisms apart from Higgs mechanism that explains the spontaneous symmetry breaking making photon massless and W and Z bosons massive?
Do you really believe in the Higgs mechanism?
 
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  • #2
I'll believe in the Higgs mechanism when Tevatron or LHC finds the (or a) Higgs particle. While there's a paper published on the arxiv every now and then suggesting some other means of generating mass, none of them have reached acceptance in the physics community. Today just about all particle physicists explain all particle masses by the Higgs mechanism.
 
  • #3


The Higgs mechanism is a widely accepted theory in particle physics that explains the origin of mass in elementary particles. It proposes the existence of a Higgs field, which permeates the entire universe, and particles interact with this field to acquire mass. This mechanism also predicts the existence of a fundamental particle, the Higgs boson, which was discovered in 2012 by the Large Hadron Collider.

While the Higgs mechanism is the most widely accepted explanation for the spontaneous symmetry breaking that results in the mass of W and Z bosons, there are other theories that attempt to explain this phenomenon. One example is the technicolor theory, which proposes that there are new fundamental particles that interact with the W and Z bosons and give them mass. However, the Higgs mechanism remains the most well-supported and experimentally verified explanation.
 

What is the Higgs mechanism?

The Higgs mechanism is a theoretical concept in particle physics that explains how particles acquire mass through interactions with a field called the Higgs field.

Who proposed the Higgs mechanism?

The Higgs mechanism was first proposed by British physicist Peter Higgs in the 1960s, along with several other physicists including Robert Brout, Francois Englert, and Gerald Guralnik.

Why is the Higgs mechanism important?

The Higgs mechanism is important because it helps to explain one of the fundamental questions in particle physics: why do particles have mass? It is also a key component of the Standard Model, which is the best current theory we have for understanding the fundamental particles and forces of the universe.

How does the Higgs mechanism work?

The Higgs mechanism works by giving particles mass through their interactions with the Higgs field. The Higgs field permeates the entire universe and particles that interact with it gain mass, while particles that do not interact with it remain massless.

Has the Higgs mechanism been proven?

The Higgs mechanism has not been directly proven, but evidence for it was found in 2012 when the Higgs boson particle was discovered at the Large Hadron Collider. This discovery provided strong support for the existence of the Higgs field and the Higgs mechanism.

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