Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the implications of confirming the effects of irrelevant operators in the standard model, particularly in the context of beyond the standard model (BSM) physics. Participants explore how such confirmation might influence theoretical frameworks, naturalness issues, and the understanding of energy scales related to new physics.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
- Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- One participant proposes a thought experiment regarding the confirmation of irrelevant operators and questions how this would change discussions in BSM physics, particularly concerning naturalness.
- Another participant suggests that the energy scale for observing these effects might be large, referencing the fine structure constant and the evolution of the understanding of relevant versus irrelevant operators since the 1970s.
- There is a consideration that if higher-order operators are observed, it would necessitate predicting or postdicting coupling values, potentially through new physics or an asymptotic safety scenario.
- One participant expresses uncertainty about the scale of new physics, questioning whether particles above certain mass thresholds, like 1 TeV or 10 TeV, are ruled out and whether the "desert" scenario is valid.
- A later reply raises the possibility that irrelevant operators might have been involved in modeling neutrino mass, suggesting a connection to the broader topic.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on the implications of irrelevant operators or the scale of new physics, indicating multiple competing views and ongoing uncertainty in the discussion.
Contextual Notes
Participants express varying assumptions about energy scales, the nature of new physics, and the relevance of certain theoretical models, which remain unresolved.