Is the Higgs Field Solely Responsible for Imparting Mass to Particles?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the role of the Higgs field in imparting mass to particles and whether mass can be considered an intrinsic property of particles, similar to charge. Participants explore the implications of these concepts within the framework of quantum field theory.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether charge is "imparted" to particles by the electromagnetic field, suggesting a parallel to how the Higgs field imparts mass.
  • Another participant asserts that charge and mass are fundamentally different, emphasizing that assigning mass to particles arbitrarily would violate key principles of quantum field theory.
  • It is noted that giving mass to fermions is prohibited by chiral symmetry, while vector boson masses are forbidden by gauge invariance, indicating that mass cannot simply be assigned without consequences.
  • A participant reiterates their understanding of the Higgs field's role in explaining mass, referencing external resources for further reading.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of mass and charge, with no consensus reached on whether mass can be considered intrinsic to particles. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of the Higgs field and the fundamental differences between mass and charge.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexities of quantum field theory and the specific symmetries involved, but do not resolve the underlying assumptions or definitions related to mass and charge.

jnorman
Messages
315
Reaction score
0
I am trying to understand the Higgs field. I understand that mass and charge are measurable characteristics of particles. I have read that the concept of the Higgs field was to explain how particles have mass. The Higgs field supposedly "imparts" mass to particles which would not have mass if the Higgs field was not present.

Does this imply that charge is "imparted" to particles by the electromagnetic field? (I have not read anything that indicates such a thing.). If that is not how a particle has charge, and it is assumed that particles have charge intrinsically, why can we not assume that particles likewise have mass intrinsically?
Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
jnorman said:
Does this imply that charge is "imparted" to particles by the electromagnetic field?
No. Charge and mass are completely different things.
jnorman said:
why can we not assume that particles likewise have mass intrinsically?
Giving particles a charge is easy (and even unavoidable) in quantum field theory, while "just giving mass" for some particles breaks very fundamental parts of the theory. I don't see how to explain that in more detail without going too much into quantum field theory.
 
jnorman said:
why can we not assume that particles likewise have mass intrinsically

As already said, giving charge is easy because it doesn't violate any symmetry...
Fermion masses are prohibited by chiral symmetry and Vector Boson masses are forbidden by gauge invariance.
In other words, put masses by hand and you won't have the standard model symmetry anymore.
 
jnorman said:
I am trying to understand the Higgs field. I understand that mass and charge are measurable characteristics of particles. I have read that the concept of the Higgs field was to explain how particles have mass. The Higgs field supposedly "imparts" mass to particles which would not have mass if the Higgs field was not present.

http://profmattstrassler.com/articl...higgs-field-works-with-math/1-the-basic-idea/
http://profmattstrassler.com/articl...-basics/fields-and-their-particles-with-math/
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Does the Higgs Field Consist of Higgs Bosons?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Undergrad Do additional Higgs fields also impart mass?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Undergrad How does the strong force give nucleons most of their mass?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
Undergrad New Constraints On The Higgs Boson Width
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K
High School Why is the Higgs boson considered a boson?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
High School The relation between mass,higgs boson, and boson field?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Graduate How do Physicists know the Higgs Field imparts mass?
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
4K
Undergrad A Fermion interacts with the Higgs field
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Is mass of top quark based solely on the Higgs field?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Undergrad Questions about the Higgs Field
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K