Fermions & Bosons: Can They Be Converted to Energy?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the theoretical conversion of fermions and bosons to energy, exploring concepts related to energy, the Big Bang, and the nature of fundamental entities in physics. Participants engage with various ideas about the relationship between particles and energy, the origins of spacetime, and the definitions of fundamental forces and particles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether fermions and bosons can be converted to energy, suggesting that particles inherently possess energy as a property rather than being convertible to it.
  • There is a discussion about the Big Bang being viewed as an "energy-soup eruption," with differing views on whether particles can switch between matter and energy.
  • Participants highlight the need for a theory of quantum gravity to fully understand the origins of spacetime and its relationship to the Big Bang.
  • Some argue that the concept of fundamental entities in physics is not settled, with debates on whether space, time, mass, energy, and fundamental forces can be considered separate or unified.
  • There are differing opinions on the completeness of the Standard Model, with some participants suggesting that it leaves many questions unanswered and that fundamental forces may arise from deeper structures like spacetime geometry.
  • Participants discuss the implications of extra dimensions and their potential role in the nature of fundamental forces and particles, with some expressing skepticism about current theories.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views on the nature of energy, the Big Bang, and what constitutes fundamental entities in physics. There is no consensus on these topics, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of a complete understanding of the Big Bang and spacetime, as well as the ongoing debate about the definitions and nature of fundamental particles and forces. Participants acknowledge that current theories may not encompass all aspects of these complex topics.

  • #31
Norrin Radd said:
Random (and probably stupid) question...
Is energy particulate too?
I don't think that question makes sense.

Hypothetical situation: If there's no higgs field, would the higgs boson serve any purpose?
Particles do not have "purpose" in physics.
Without higgs field there would be no higgs boson and vice versa. Fields and their corresponding particles usually come together. This is not restricted to bosons, it is also true for all fermions.
 
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  • #32
Norrin Radd said:
Is that how it works? As far as I know, gauge bosons are the quantum of their respective fields...while Higgs Boson interacts with the Higgs field to "impart" mass to particles...gauge bosons don't "interact" per se; although they form their respective fields.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

Also since I've failed to understand what you're trying to convey...please elucidate.

The particles (fermions and massive bosons) interact with the Higgs field and so they get mass, because the Higgs field gets a vev v. Who said that gauge bosons don't interact with themselves?
For example there is a coupling between W^+ W^- \gamma \gamma (2 W bosons and 2 photons)
If you have a field, if it's meant to be physical, it must represent some boson.
You can however introduce fields which actually don't give you any physical particle.
 
  • #33
mfb said:
Particles do not have "purpose" in physics.
Without higgs field there would be no higgs boson and vice versa. Fields and their corresponding particles usually come together. This is not restricted to bosons, it is also true for all fermions.

See, Higgs Boson interacts with Higgs Field to impart mass to particles.
It's like Higgs Field is the signal tower, while the Higgs Boson is a SIM card.
Do gauge bosons work that way too?
 
  • #34
Norrin Radd said:
See, Higgs Boson interacts with Higgs Field to impart mass to particles.

That is totally wrong.
The correct phrase is that particles interact with the Higgs field, and because the last can get a vev the particles acquire mass..
The other gauge bosons are vector bosons, and you can't give them a vev without breaking the Lorentz Invariance. If they did, for example the terms which couple the gauge bosons to 2 fermions would cause mass terms proportional to the gauge bosons' vev. But in that case your vacuum would have lorentz indices- a preferred direction...
 
Last edited:
  • #35
Norrin Radd said:
It's like Higgs Field is the signal tower, while the Higgs Boson is a SIM card.
I don't understand that analogy.

See ChrisVer for the first part.
 

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