Fermions & Bosons: Can They Be Converted to Energy?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Norrin Radd
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Bosons Fermions
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the theoretical conversion of fermions and bosons into energy, with participants asserting that particles inherently possess energy as a property rather than being convertible to energy. Key points include the distinction between fermions (e.g., electrons) and bosons (e.g., photons), and the clarification that energy is not an object but a characteristic of particles. The conversation also touches on the Big Bang, quantum mechanics, and the nature of fundamental forces, emphasizing that spacetime, mass, energy, and fundamental forces are separate entities that cannot be simplified into a single concept of energy.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of particle physics, specifically fermions and bosons.
  • Familiarity with the Big Bang Theory and its implications.
  • Basic knowledge of quantum mechanics, including concepts like energy states and wave-particle duality.
  • Awareness of the Standard Model of particle physics and its limitations.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of the Big Bang on particle formation and energy states.
  • Explore quantum mechanics concepts such as the square well problem and wave-particle duality.
  • Study the Standard Model of particle physics and its role in understanding fundamental forces.
  • Investigate theories of quantum gravity and their potential to unify current physics models.
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, students of particle physics, and anyone interested in the fundamental nature of matter and energy, particularly in the context of cosmology and quantum mechanics.

  • #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.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #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.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
907
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K