Exploring the Reality of Gluons: Debunking Misconceptions in the Standard Model

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In summary, the Higgs mechanism gives mass to the W, Z, quarks, and charged leptons through interactions with the symmetry breaking vacuum of the Higgs field. It is unknown if this mechanism applies to neutrinos. The Higgs does not give mass to the gluon due to the lack of a gauge invariant interaction. However, according to the underlying theories, the gluon is equally "real" as the photon.
  • #1
Morberticus
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I have been told that the gluon, unlike the photon, is an artefact of the mathematical technique used (perturbation theory), and that the only massless particle in the standard model is the photon.

Is this true?
 
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  • #2
It is true that the photon is the only massless gauge boson in the standard model, but the gluon is as physical and not an artifact of perturbation theory. The thing is that the gluon is massive because of the Higgs mechanism (Higgs boson).
 
  • #3
The gluon is not massive because of the Higgs boson.

The gluon is massless. However, it does not exist as a free particle.
 
  • #4
Vanadium 50 said:
The gluon is not massive because of the Higgs boson.

The gluon is massless. However, it does not exist as a free particle.

My knowledge of high-energy physics is virtually nonexistent, so please forgive my ignorance, but I'd be grateful for an answer that uses crayons to the following question.

AFAIK the Higgs mechanism gives mass to the following particles: W+, W-, Z, the Higgs itself, and the quarks. Does it not give mass to the leptons? Why not? What about the neutrinos? Why does it not give mass to other particles in the standard model, such as the gluon?
 
  • #5
bcrowell said:
My knowledge of high-energy physics is virtually nonexistent, so please forgive my ignorance, but I'd be grateful for an answer that uses crayons to the following question.

AFAIK the Higgs mechanism gives mass to the following particles: W+, W-, Z, the Higgs itself, and the quarks. Does it not give mass to the leptons? Why not? What about the neutrinos? Why does it not give mass to other particles in the standard model, such as the gluon?

Strictly, what one should say is that interactions with the (symmetry breaking) vacuum of the Higgs field gives mass to the W, the Z, the quarks, and the charged leptons. (Whether it is strictly correct to say this about the Higgs boson is complicated by the fact that the Higgs mechanism requires that the Higgs field have a mass term to begin with.) It is unknown whether the mass generation mechanism for neutrinos relies in any way on the Higgs vacuum.

This Higgs does not given mass to the gluon because (as the Higgs carries no color charge) there is no way to write a gauge invariant interaction between the gluon and the Higgs field.
 
  • #6
element4 said:
It is true that the photon is the only massless gauge boson in the standard model, but the gluon is as physical and not an artifact of perturbation theory. The thing is that the gluon is massive because of the Higgs mechanism (Higgs boson).

As said the gluon doe not get acquire mass due to the Higgs effect.

The gluon does not exist as a free particle that can travel macroscopic distances therefore it is not equally "real" as the photon".

According to the underlying physical theories the gluons is as real as the photon. The defining equations of QED and QCD are structurally similar. The QCD equations are more complicated and seem to rule out the existence of free gluons at low energies relevant for our macroscopic world. But if you could sit on a quark and go round in circles at the LHC both photons and gluons would be equally "real"
 

1. What are gluons and what is their role in the Standard Model?

Gluons are particles that mediate the strong nuclear force, one of the four fundamental forces of nature described by the Standard Model. They are responsible for binding quarks together to form composite particles such as protons and neutrons. In essence, gluons hold the nucleus of an atom together.

2. Can gluons exist outside of a nucleus or atom?

No, gluons can only exist within the confines of a nucleus or atom. The strong nuclear force, which is mediated by gluons, only has a range of about 10^-15 meters, making it the weakest of the four fundamental forces. This means that gluons cannot travel far enough to exist independently.

3. Are there any misconceptions about gluons in the Standard Model?

Yes, there are several misconceptions about gluons in the Standard Model. One common misconception is that gluons have mass, when in fact they are massless particles. Another misconception is that gluons only interact with quarks, when in reality they can also interact with other gluons.

4. How do scientists study and explore the reality of gluons?

Scientists study and explore gluons through experiments using particle accelerators, such as the Large Hadron Collider, which can create high-energy collisions between particles. These collisions can produce new particles, including gluons, which can then be studied and analyzed by scientists.

5. Can the existence of gluons be proven?

Yes, the existence of gluons has been confirmed through numerous experiments and observations in particle physics. Their role in the strong nuclear force has been supported by the successful predictions of the Standard Model. Additionally, the discovery of gluons has also been recognized by the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2004.

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