Higgs field was zero right after Big Bang, could it return to zero?

In summary: If not, you should explain in your A level post what you have understood and what you have not, so that the discussion can focus on what you need to understand better. In summary, the conversation revolves around the Higgs field and its role in providing particles with mass. The universe started with a zero Higgs field after the big bang, but as it cooled, the field grew and particles interacting with it acquired mass. The question is whether the Higgs field can go back to zero and what aspects of the Higgs mechanism and Lagrangian support this claim. To have a meaningful discussion, a valid reference should be provided as a starting point.
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Tertius
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TL;DR Summary
The Higgs field was zero immediately after the Big Bang and then spontaneously increased, so that all interacting particles became massive. Could the Higgs field value ever return to zero?
Quote from cern: "Just after the big bang, the Higgs field was zero, but as the universe cooled and the temperature fell below a critical value, the field grew spontaneously so that any particle interacting with it acquired a mass."

Can it go back to zero? If anyone has a comment either way, feel free to include what in the Higgs mechanism/Lagrangian supports the claim.
 
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A quote from a web page, even from CERN, attempting to give a flavor of what is happening is not a good start for an A-level thread.
  • Do you know any particle physics? Graduate level?
  • Do you know any cosmology? Graduate level?
If the answer is not "yes" to both, you should tell us where your starting point is, and ask the Mentors to adjust the level accordingly. If your answer is yes to both, please provide an appropriate reference to what you want to discuss.
 
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Tertius said:
Quote from cern
As @Vanadium 50 has pointed out, this is not a good reference to give as a basis for an "A" level thread discussion.

Tertius said:
Can it go back to zero? If anyone has a comment either way, feel free to include what in the Higgs mechanism/Lagrangian supports the claim.
The best starting point for investigating this kind of question is not to just throw it out here. It is to first provide a valid reference (textbook or peer-reviewed paper) that explains how the Higgs mechanism works and that can be used as a basis for discussion.

After consulting such a reference, you might find it already answers your question.
 
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1. What is the Higgs field and how does it relate to the Big Bang?

The Higgs field is a fundamental field in physics that gives particles their mass. It is believed to have been present during the Big Bang and played a crucial role in the formation of the universe.

2. Why was the Higgs field zero right after the Big Bang?

During the early stages of the Big Bang, the universe was extremely hot and dense. The Higgs field requires a certain amount of energy to be present, and at such high temperatures, this energy was not available. Therefore, the Higgs field was effectively zero.

3. Can the Higgs field return to zero?

The Higgs field is an essential component of the universe and is not expected to return to zero. It is believed to have a non-zero value throughout the universe, even in the vacuum of space. However, the energy density of the Higgs field can change over time.

4. What would happen if the Higgs field returned to zero?

If the Higgs field were to return to zero, it would mean that all particles in the universe would lose their mass. This would have a significant impact on the structure and stability of the universe, potentially leading to its collapse.

5. Is there any evidence that the Higgs field has returned to zero?

Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that the Higgs field has returned to zero. In fact, recent experiments at the Large Hadron Collider have confirmed the existence of the Higgs boson, which is a manifestation of the Higgs field. This discovery further supports the idea that the Higgs field has a non-zero value throughout the universe.

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