- #1
jnorman
- 316
- 0
okay, i am totally confused (again). i ihave a general understanding that the higgs mechanism is the effect which gives particles mass. the higgs mechanism is determined by the higgs field and mediated by the higgs boson. is that correct so far?
now the HLC indicates that it has somehwat pinned down a potential mass for the higgs boson of around 120gev.
so, a few questions (dont point me at wiki - i read it and cannot understand it...)
1. if the higgs mechanism is what gives particles mass, how can the higgs boson have mass?
2. since the higgs gives particles mass, and is basically a field, what is the relationship between the higgs field and the gravitational field?
3. how can a new particle (higgs) give mass? ie, what is going on - from what i read, the actual boson is short lived, so how is it actually interacting with normal particles like electrons and quarks? is it virtual, like virtual photons? is it a "real" thing that pops into existence to interact and then disappears within the limits of HUP?
i'll stop there for now - my brain is locked up.
thanks.
now the HLC indicates that it has somehwat pinned down a potential mass for the higgs boson of around 120gev.
so, a few questions (dont point me at wiki - i read it and cannot understand it...)
1. if the higgs mechanism is what gives particles mass, how can the higgs boson have mass?
2. since the higgs gives particles mass, and is basically a field, what is the relationship between the higgs field and the gravitational field?
3. how can a new particle (higgs) give mass? ie, what is going on - from what i read, the actual boson is short lived, so how is it actually interacting with normal particles like electrons and quarks? is it virtual, like virtual photons? is it a "real" thing that pops into existence to interact and then disappears within the limits of HUP?
i'll stop there for now - my brain is locked up.
thanks.