So does the Higg field give the neutrino mass, and can neutrino velocity change?

In summary, the conversation discusses the relationship between the Higgs field and the mass and velocity of neutrinos. It is explained that neutrinos have mass and can vary in speed, with the Higgs field model potentially accounting for their mass. The Standard Model suggests that neutrinos can travel at any speed lower than the speed of light, and their small mass can be explained by giving them a Majorana mass term. The conversation also briefly touches on how this concept applies to photons, which have no mass but have momentum.
  • #1
bananan
176
0
so does the Higg field give the neutrino mass, and can neutrino velocity change? how close to c is neutrino velocity?
 
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  • #2
Neutrinos have mass. Therefore, they can vary in speed. It is hard to measure speed exactly, but they travel very close to c. Higgs field model presumably covers their mass as well as for anything else.
 
  • #3
According to the standard model, a neutrino can travel at any speed lower than c. Because their mass is so small, at normal energies they travel at very close to c.
 
  • #4
In the Standard Model, the neutrino can gain a mass from the Higgs field just as the other particles do. However with just this, it is difficult to explain why their masses are so small. A better idea is to give them a Majorana mass term, which naturally leads to small nuetrino masses via the see-saw mechnism.
 
  • #5
How does this apply to a photon? They have no mass (presumably unsullied by the Higgs) but have momentum.

Is this a "now you have it, now you don't, moment"?
 
  • #6
Why the necropost? This looks like a prime example for a new thread.
 

1. How does the Higgs field give the neutrino mass?

The Higgs field interacts with particles in the universe, giving them mass. This interaction is known as the Higgs mechanism. Neutrinos do not have an electric charge, but they do have a weak charge and therefore interact with the Higgs field, acquiring a small mass through this interaction.

2. Is the Higgs field the only source of neutrino mass?

No, the Higgs field is not the only source of neutrino mass. There are other theoretical mechanisms that could explain the mass of neutrinos, such as the seesaw mechanism and the Majorana mechanism. However, the Higgs mechanism is currently the most widely accepted explanation for neutrino mass.

3. Can the Higgs field give different masses to different types of neutrinos?

Yes, the Higgs field can give different masses to different types of neutrinos. There are three types, or flavors, of neutrinos: electron, muon, and tau. Each type has a different mass, and the Higgs field can give each type a different mass through their weak charge interactions.

4. Can the velocity of neutrinos change?

Yes, the velocity of neutrinos can change. Neutrinos are known to have a very small but non-zero mass, and therefore they are not required to travel at the speed of light. In fact, recent experiments have shown that neutrinos can change their flavors, indicating that they do indeed have different velocities.

5. How does the Higgs field affect the velocity of neutrinos?

The interaction between neutrinos and the Higgs field does not directly affect their velocity. However, the Higgs field does give neutrinos a small mass, which in turn affects their velocity. The more mass a particle has, the slower it travels. Therefore, the Higgs field indirectly affects the velocity of neutrinos by giving them a small mass.

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