B Can particles interact without a mass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter nonamebrand
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Mass Particles
Click For Summary
The discussion centers on the possibility of particles interacting without mass, particularly in relation to the Higgs boson and the origins of the universe. It is clarified that mass is not a requirement for interactions, as massless particles like photons can still engage in interactions through charge and force carriers. The Higgs mechanism is highlighted as a process that allows particles to acquire mass through their interaction with the Higgs field, which was crucial for the development of the Standard Model of particle physics. Additionally, the conversation touches on the complexities of mass definitions in modern physics, emphasizing that the concept of mass has evolved and is often context-dependent. Ultimately, the thread concludes that mass is not a fundamental property in the universe, as interactions can occur even among massless particles.
  • #31
ohwilleke said:
It follows from the fact that there is a finite amount of mass-energy in the Universe
Only in the observable universe. The universe as a whole is spatially infinite.

ohwilleke said:
conservation of mass-energy
Which is a local concept in GR, not a global one. In a non-stationary spacetime, such as the spacetime that describes our universe as a whole, there is no conserved global energy.

ohwilleke said:
which is very basic and uncontroversial premises of the Big Bang theory of cosmology
I think you are either misunderstanding or misstating the theory.
 
Space news on Phys.org
  • #33
ohwilleke said:
A good background discussion of asymptotic safety which I oversimplify in my comment can be found in this published open source paper (Eichhorn 2019) (particularly Part 5). See also here and here. Also here (discussing distinction between classical GR singularity Big Bang at infinite temperature and limitations on that in a quantum gravity scenario).
All of these are speculative quantum gravity models, not mainstream cosmology. Discussion of them belongs in the Beyond the Standard Model forum, not here.

Also, it is rather inconsistent of you to first emphasize that all physics above energy scales we can currently probe is speculative and should be taken with a grain of salt, and then to inundate us with such speculations.
 
  • #34
Why should energy not be conserved globally?
 
  • #35
Prishon said:
Why should energy not be conserved globally?
In GR, it's more that there isn't even a well-defined global concept of "energy" except in a special class of spacetimes (the stationary spacetimes).
 
  • #36
I don't follow... Can you give a link? I am very interested.
 

Similar threads

A Form of energy at time of big bang
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
B Does Negative Mass Impact Expansion in Vacuum Space?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
I Giving mass to other particles?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
B I wonder about a particle's energy when mass is obtained or lost
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
B The relation between mass,higgs boson, and boson field?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
I New Constraints On The Higgs Boson Width
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
B How do the candidates for Dark Energy 'work'?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
A Higgs inflation and quadratic gravity
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
I Does the Higgs Field Consist of Higgs Bosons?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
B Why is the Higgs boson considered a boson?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K