Higgs particle and non-zero expected value in vacuum

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of Lorentz invariance in relation to the Higgs particle and its vacuum expectation value (vev). Participants explore the distinctions between the Higgs field and the Higgs boson, as well as the conditions under which fields can have non-zero vevs without breaking Lorentz invariance.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants clarify that the vacuum expectation value is a property of the Higgs field rather than the Higgs boson, noting that there are no Higgs bosons present in the vacuum.
  • Others argue that a vacuum expectation value for a non-scalar field would imply a preferred direction and reference frame, which would violate Lorentz invariance.
  • A participant expresses skepticism about the original phrasing, suggesting it may have been written by someone already familiar with the Higgs field, and notes that tensor fields can have non-vanishing vevs, although none exist in the Standard Model (SM).
  • Another participant asserts that the statement regarding scalar fields and non-zero vevs is correct and can be mathematically proven, emphasizing that only scalar fields can develop non-zero vevs while maintaining Poincare symmetry.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the uniqueness of scalar fields in relation to vacuum expectation values and Lorentz invariance, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain without a clear consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference the implications of Lorentz invariance and the characteristics of different types of fields, but the discussion does not resolve the complexities surrounding these concepts or the mathematical proofs mentioned.

Adams2020
Messages
39
Reaction score
3
TL;DR
What does the phrase “Due to Lorentz invariance, only the Higgs particle can have a non-zero expected value in a vacuum” mean?
What does the phrase “Due to Lorentz invariance, only the Higgs particle can have a non-zero expected value in a vacuum” mean?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
The vacuum expectation value is a property of the Higgs field, not the Higgs boson. There are no Higgs bosons in the vacuum.

A vacuum expectation value for a non-scalar field would imply some preferred direction and reference frame: It would change if you go to a different reference frame, i.e. break Lorentz invariance.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: vanhees71
It is a weirdly put phrase, written by someone who probably already knew of the existence of the Higgs field (?)
I've seen tensor fields having non-vanishing vevs (but of course we don't have any in the SM). This however makes me say that, in principle, there is nothing extremely special about scalars. One special thing they have is that they have nice and easy Lorentz Transformations and that we know of the Higgs boson.
I know that vector fields have problems as they indeed give a preferred direction to the vacuum if you give them non-vanishing vev.
 
ChrisVer said:
It is a weirdly put phrase, written by someone who probably already knew of the existence of the Higgs field (?)
I've seen tensor fields having non-vanishing vevs (but of course we don't have any in the SM). This however makes me say that, in principle, there is nothing extremely special about scalars.
No, the statement is correct and can be proven mathematically. To keep the Poincare symmetry intact, only scalar fields can develop non-zero VEVs.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: vanhees71 and dextercioby

Similar threads

Undergrad New Constraints On The Higgs Boson Width
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K
Undergrad The Latest Higgs Boson Mass Measurement
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
5K
Undergrad Does the Higgs Field Consist of Higgs Bosons?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Undergrad Zero spin of Higgs boson? Is it really zero?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
4K
Graduate Higgs field was zero right after Big Bang, could it return to zero?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad How prone is a photon to interacting with uncharged structureless particles?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Graduate Branching ratios | Higgs phenomenology
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K
High School Why is the Higgs boson considered a boson?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Graduate Predicting the positive parity and zero spin of the Higgs boson?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Undergrad The Higgs field and boson - what's it's involvement in mass?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K