What is Higgs: Definition and 682 Discussions

In the Standard Model of particle physics, the Higgs mechanism is essential to explain the generation mechanism of the property "mass" for gauge bosons. Without the Higgs mechanism, all bosons (one of the two classes of particles, the other being fermions) would be considered massless, but measurements show that the W+, W−, and Z0 bosons actually have relatively large masses of around 80 GeV/c2. The Higgs field resolves this conundrum. The simplest description of the mechanism adds a quantum field (the Higgs field) that permeates all space to the Standard Model. Below some extremely high temperature, the field causes spontaneous symmetry breaking during interactions. The breaking of symmetry triggers the Higgs mechanism, causing the bosons it interacts with to have mass. In the Standard Model, the phrase "Higgs mechanism" refers specifically to the generation of masses for the W±, and Z weak gauge bosons through electroweak symmetry breaking. The Large Hadron Collider at CERN announced results consistent with the Higgs particle on 14 March 2013, making it extremely likely that the field, or one like it, exists, and explaining how the Higgs mechanism takes place in nature.
The mechanism was proposed in 1962 by Philip Warren Anderson, following work in the late 1950s on symmetry breaking in superconductivity and a 1960 paper by Yoichiro Nambu that discussed its application within particle physics.
A theory able to finally explain mass generation without "breaking" gauge theory was published almost simultaneously by three independent groups in 1964: by Robert Brout and François Englert; by Peter Higgs; and by Gerald Guralnik, C. R. Hagen, and Tom Kibble. The Higgs mechanism is therefore also called the Brout–Englert–Higgs mechanism, or Englert–Brout–Higgs–Guralnik–Hagen–Kibble mechanism, Anderson–Higgs mechanism, Anderson–Higgs–Kibble mechanism, Higgs–Kibble mechanism by Abdus Salam and ABEGHHK'tH mechanism (for Anderson, Brout, Englert, Guralnik, Hagen, Higgs, Kibble, and 't Hooft) by Peter Higgs. The Higgs mechanism in electrodynamics was also discovered independently by Eberly and Reiss in reverse
as the "gauge" Dirac field mass gain due to the artificially displaced electromagnetic field as a Higgs field.On 8 October 2013, following the discovery at CERN's Large Hadron Collider of a new particle that appeared to be the long-sought Higgs boson predicted by the theory, it was announced that Peter Higgs and François Englert had been awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics.

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  1. J

    Comparing Gauge and Higgs Fields

    Do gauge fields work the same way as the Higgs field? Are gauge fields all encompassing too, like the Higgs field? What are the differences between the functioning of gauge fields and Higgs field?
  2. spacecadet11

    Is a Higgs Boson Related to the Higgs Field?

    Hello. I am an amateur. Is a Higgs boson to the Higgs field the same as an Electron(oops boson)to the electric field? Thx SC
  3. Safinaz

    LHC and constrains on heavier Higgs bosons

    Hi all, I wonder if I study new Higgs scalars, How the data of the LHC for searching for heavier scalars in h-> WW->lvlv and h -> ZZ-> 4 l channels like in [arXiv:1304.0213] can make constrain on my study for the new Higgs? How a figure like figure 2 can give constrains on my model free...
  4. Safinaz

    Constrains on new Higgs scalars from LHC recent data

    Hi all, I wonder if I study new Higgs scalars, How the data of the LHC for searching for heavier scalars in h-> WW->lvlv and h -> ZZ-> 4 l channels like in [arXiv:1304.0213] can make constrain on my study for the new Higgs? How a figure like figure 2 can give me data for my model...
  5. spacecadet11

    Exploring the Mechanism of the Higgs Boson and Its Potential Control

    Hello. Since the Higgs Boson is responsible for giving sub-atomic particles mass..or any particles there mass..is there a present understanding of the mechanism by which the field actually does this? And if there is...is there any artificial way of controlling it? My thinking is that if you...
  6. agnishom

    Does the Higgs mechanism explain the equivalence of gravitiational and

    I am not well versed in the idea of Higgs mechanism. However, I was wondering if it does explain the problem of equivalence of gravitational and inertial mass. Also, what is the modern accepted definition of mass?
  7. Safinaz

    Couplings of sfermions to h Higgs boson

    Hi all, I try to find the detailed calculations of the couplings of sfermions to the lightest h Higgs boson in MSSM, I want to reach Equ. (1.109) in [arXiv:hep-ph/0503173], Do you know any useful reference ? Bests, S.S.
  8. N

    Do the strings in String theory get energy to vibrate from Higgs?

    Just as particles move through the theoretical Higgs field and gain energy which gives them mass, do the strings in String theory get their energy to vibrate from the Higgs Field as well? And does that mean that the Strings have mass?
  9. BiGyElLoWhAt

    What particles are measured in the Higgs experiment at CERN?

    So I've done some research, but to no avail. Can anyone link me to some reasonably detailed information regarding the Higgs experiment at CERN? I'm kind of new when it comes to this sort of thing. So a walkthrough of the experiment would be great (What they were looking for and why they were...
  10. T

    Is Higgs Boson Theoretical or Hypothetical?

    I had an argument at my university about it, since experiments at LHC aren't 100% confirmed. I mean, gauge theories are.. theories and Goldstone bosons are theorems. Someone share some light plese?
  11. tlnarasimham

    In the standard model gravitron is a particle but Higgs boson is not?

    In the standard model gravitron is a particle but Higgs boson is not. The Higgs field causes particles to acquire mass. Mass generates a gravitation field. Is gravitron is in any way related to Higgs boson? Is the Higgs field any way related to gravitation field?
  12. R

    Exploring the Dimensions of the Higgs Field

    Is the Higgs field 4 dimensional?
  13. W

    How particles interact with the Higgs Field?

    Reading around gives me some idea of WHY particles interact with the Higgs field but not How! I am looking for a model that I can use to explain the process to my High school students. Can anyone help please. John
  14. R

    How much energy is needed to manipulate the Higgs field?

    Hi everyone, So I've been wondering how much energy does it takes to impart some kind of effect on the higgs field. I've been trying to look for the energy the LHC generates and compare it to the actual amount of energy that it takes for the higgs field to be affected, but since this is all new...
  15. S

    Higgs field in the early universe

    As i understand it, at some point in the early unvierse, the Higgs field was off, then it swtiched on. Is this correct? I can't find when this is supposed to have happened, does anyone know?
  16. B

    Is there a connection between the Higgs field and energy in Majorana framework?

    if the Higgs bosson field is responsible for giving particles mass. and mass and energy are interchangable e=mc^2. Then is there a field, like the higgs that is responsible for energy. maybe an exited state of the higgs?
  17. D

    Higgs field at near light speed

    I'm a high school student and I don't know much about this stuff e.g. the Higgs Field but i know that the Higgs field gives mass to some particles. I also learned that the mass of an object is relative to its speed. So my question is, what happens to the Higgs field at those near light speeds to...
  18. J

    Why was confirming Higgs mechanism worth it?

    I'm just looking for a layman's explanation of why the efforts to confirm Higgs was truly necessary and worth the expense. The counter-argument is that theoretical physics seem to be going along just fine assuming something like the Higgs mechanism existed without validating it. Also, nothing...
  19. W

    Do Higgs bosons exist outside Switzerland?

    What i mean is: are there currently Higgs Bosons in the universe or the only place where they exist now is if man (or some other technological being) recreates special conditions like in a particle accelerator? Another related question of mine is: some particles "receive" their mass from the...
  20. S

    Is the Higgs Field Truly Responsible for the Mass of Fermions?

    It is said that the Higgs field is responsible for the mass of all particles. But the Higgs mechanism provides mass to the gauge bosons, and as far as I know the mass of the fermions is put "by hand" into the Lagrangian. Why, then, is the Higgs field responsible for the mass of the fermions?
  21. Safinaz

    Recent Higgs searches at the LHC

    Hi all, Have anyone idea about the recent Higgs searches at the LHC ? I mean after finding the SM Higgs , is there now any trials to find another Higgs ? or just now they are confirming and rechecking data, for example if the newly discovered Higgs is the SM one or " SM- like Higgs"...
  22. J

    What are the quantum numbers of the Higgs boson?

    Hi everyone, I have studied QFT, the SM and the Higgs mechanism when I was in university and after reading an article from CMS (CERN) about the spin-parity measurement of the HZZ channel, which shows that J^{P}=0^+ is favoured versus J^{P}=0^-, I went back to the theory of the Higgs boson...
  23. D

    Higgs field as the 5th fundamental force?

    Greetings, I am brand new to quantum physics. By that I mean I have no idea of the mathematics and know terribly little about the physics. In fact my best background comes from the book QED by Richard Feynman. Anyway, I do know that there are four fundamental forces which have force-carrying...
  24. P

    The Higgs field (mechanism) is the cause of fictitious forces?

    Newton second law of motion states that acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass. The Higgs field (mechanism) is the cause of fictitious forces?
  25. H

    Exploring the Possibility of CERN's Discovery: Is it Really a Higgs Particle?

    Is there any possibility that CERN has discovered a particle that appears like a Higgs, but simply could be some other particle that has a different function?
  26. Q

    Help with Higgs Strahlung Production & Formulating a Matrix Element

    Hello dear everyone I would like to ask if someone can help me with the following two things: 1) How many different feynman diagrams can one possibly draw for Higgs strahlung production that is of 4th order? The mediator should be Z-particle. 2) Formulate an equation for the amplitude...
  27. A

    Creating Higgs Boson: Mass & Energy Needed?

    from what I understand, the higgs boson is basically a wave in the higgs field. I understand that they have a lot of mass, but are they hard to create? are there higgs bosons flying past us every time electrons moves through wires, or do they require intense energy to be created?
  28. A

    Is the Higgs Field Homogeneous or Does It Vary with Particle Interactions?

    is the higgs field always homogeneous, or do particles such as electrons cause it to be concentrated about certain points? Are there waves in the higgs field?
  29. M

    What is the Feynman diagram for Higgs decay to Z and gamma particles?

    Hi, I am drawing Feynman diagrams for various Higgs decay channels. There are two diagrams I am stuck on and there aren't many examples online. They are H→gg and H→Z\gamma For the H→gg decay I had a stab at drawing the reverse of the gluon fusion diagram. Higgs decaying to two gluons via a...
  30. A

    Particles moving through the higgs field

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  31. Primroses

    Why is Higgs particle a doublet

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  32. F

    Higgs Boson Confusion: Answers to Your Questions

    Hi, please could someone kindly answer a few questions regarding the higgs boson. Everywhere I read about this topic I seem constantly faced with information that is not consistent. I have focused on sources (mainly YouTube videos) of well known physicists and other Physics Forum threads in an...
  33. W

    Any Practical, Daily Uses for Higgs Field?

    Any "Practical," Daily Uses for Higgs Field? First of all, my knowledge of the Higgs is limited to pretty much "Science" channel plus scientific related articles on the internet, so forgive any ignorance or misunderstandings. I am interested in potential future applications for the Higgs...
  34. D

    Higgs to photon decay + neutrino

    Hello, I'm currently in my last year of high school and I'm doing a project about the higgs particle decaying to two photons. I am using HYPATIA to analyse ATLAS events. When a higgs boson decays into two photons, you can see activity in the electromagnetic calorimeter without seeing a track...
  35. P

    Entanglement of Higgs boson to explain dark energy

    Sorry in advance for this probably stupid question. If there is entanglement is there not entaglement for all particles. If so, could there not be entanglement for the Higgs boson, and therefore our own gravity, could have an equal and opposite force, both combining for a net effect of...
  36. D

    Higgs-Boson Particle Explained in Layman's Terms for Jonas

    Hello my name is Jonas. I don't understand what the Higgs-Boson particle is and what its significance is. Could someone explain this to me in laymens terms so I know what I am looking for to do further study on this. Just message me. Thanks and have a good day...Jonas
  37. T

    Why is the Higgs Field not considered a fifth fundamental force?

    Why exactly is it that the Higgs field is not considered a fundamental force? Since the Higgs Boson has been confirmed would that not make it a force as it's presence has been confirmed by the discovery of the boson for the field?
  38. kmm

    Is the higgs boson the mediator of the higgs field?

    I'm a little confused about whether the higgs boson is the mediator of the higgs field. I haven't had a chance to study in depth the higgs field theory, but I have tried finding information from seemingly reliable sources and there are some apparent contradictions. I watched Leonard Susskinds...
  39. N

    Uncovering the Truth: The Search for the Higgs Boson Particle

    I heard from a few sources that the Higgs Boson particle probably doesn't exist, is this true? If so, what does this mean for the Big Bang theory? And how did it start the Big Bang theoretically anyway? If not, what have the scientists at the LHC found? Is it the standard model Higgs, or...
  40. H

    Does the higgs mechanism explain the observed masses of sub particles?

    I was wondering if there are any theories that show how much mass the higgs field gives to each particle and why? I am specifically wondering about the observed masses for each particles rest mass. Does the higgs mechanism give mass in quanta, and if so is there a reason for the amounts?
  41. J

    Higgs mechanism and relativity

    Hi all, Having looked into the Higgs mechanism a bit (I am a physics undergrad, so my understanding is pretty basic if even correct), I have come up with a question. I understand that the way that the Higgs field gives mass to the W and Z bosons is different to the way that it gives leptons...
  42. rpthomps

    Understanding the need for the Higgs Field

    Hello, I am a layman who just read Sean Carroll's The Particle at the End of the Universe and I am trying to understand what I think is the crux of the book, the need for the Higg's boson according to the Standard model. This is my thought process: 1. The weak interaction only interacts...
  43. F

    How many higgs particles are there in the universe

    And does not their mass add to the mass (or energy) of the universe? Does that not create problems in cosmological models ? I know about the Dark energy/higgs conjecture, but that is NOT my question.
  44. TrickyDicky

    Higgs boson semantic questions

    The first question is why it is sometimes called the "Higgs meson"?-even by its discoverers, see recent controversy about the particle's name and the proposal to call it "standard model scalar meson", isn't a meson a composite particle while the particle detected by the LHC supposed to be...
  45. S

    Why was Higgs not discovered at Tevatron?

    As far as I can tell Tevatron was able to identify relative to background an excess in decay processes in the range from 105 to 145 GeV. But what was different with Tevatron that didn't allow it to discover the Higgs before the LHC? The LHC had double the CM-energy but the Higgs could've still...
  46. Z

    Higgs boson decays to Bottom/Anti-Bottom then what?

    The charts at CERN show calculations that a 126 GeV Higgs boson is expected to decay to a bottom/anti-bottom quark combination 56% of the time. Do they mean as an Upsilon Meson which decays in a certain pattern according to the wiki meson decay charts? Or, do they mean independent bottom and...
  47. N

    One quick question about Higgs boson and supersymmetry

    Peter Higgs is going to get a Nobel prize for physics, since Higgs boson's existence was confirmed in the experiments in CERN. But I do have some questions: I read the following, but I'm not qualified to say if this is true or not, so I'm asking you for help, and if the following statement is...
  48. ZapperZ

    MOOC on The Discovery of the Higgs Boson

    MOOC on "The Discovery of the Higgs Boson" The University of Edinburgh is offering a massive online open course on "The Discovery of the Higgs Boson" to the public. This is a 7-week course, with 2 hours per week of online presentation. After this, there should be no more whining from people...
  49. my2cts

    Higgs model predicts a universe the size of a football.

    Veltman states that the cosmological constant in the Higgs model takes the form C= m2M2 / 8g2 , which is way too large. In fact, the universe should be about the size of a theorists head or a football. http://igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/...temVeltman.pdf He states that "since the energy of...
  50. F

    Higgs Mechanism and Black Holes

    If seems to me that the conditions in the early universe which led to the activation of the Higgs field might be found inside a black hole, but in reverse. This might explain the mystery of infinite density inside a black hole, uniting Gen Rel and QM. Might a black hole then be a baby universe...
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