B Did Mass Exist in the Early Universe Before the Higgs Boson?

[Brunolem33]

In the early stages of the universe, before the formation of the first particles, did mass exist?
If yes, what had mass?
If no, can one say that the early universe was massless?

 

[PeterDonis]

In the early stages of the universe, before the formation of the first particles

What does "formation of the first particles" mean? Can you give a reference for the model of the early universe you are using?

Generally speaking, your questions aren't well-defined because you haven't said what you mean by "mass". Knowing which model you are using might help to pin that down.

 

[mathman]

Total mass plus energy stays the same.

 

[stoomart]

In the early stages of the universe, before the formation of the first particles, did mass exist?
If yes, what had mass?
If no, can one say that the early universe was massless?

My understanding is several of the elementary particles do have mass, and since we don't know the substructure of these particles, who knows if "mass" existed before them, or if there even was a time "before the formation of the first particles".
If we assume all particles are destroyed in a black hole, their existence doesn't seem to be required for the system to have mass.

 

[PeterDonis]

My understanding is several of the elementary particles do have mass, and since we don't know the substructure of these particles, who knows if "mass" existed before them, or if there even was a time "before the formation of the first particles".
IIf we assume all particles are destroyed in a black hole, their existence doesn't seem to be required for the system to have mass.

You're using the term "mass" in at least two different ways here. With regard to the elementary particles, you're using it to mean "rest mass". With regard to the black hole as a system, you're using it to mean "total energy". That only confuses the issue.

 

[rootone]

I hear that the Higgs boson has something to do with it.
The particle/field that was recently discovered by LHC.
Although I agree. it's hard to imagine a state of stuff before a Higgs boson exists, and whether it could be called matter or not.