Understanding Higgs Field Theory: Can Particle Mass Be Modified?

[morgan77]

Hello,

This is my first post and I'm by no means a professional, but I am trying to sort out my understanding of the Higgs field theory. As I understand it, particles acquire mass through their interaction with the Higgs field, an electron being the "lightest" and a Top Quark being the "heaviest". My---no doubt absurd---question is this: under the current theory, would it be possible for a particle's interaction to be modified through some method? In other words, if it is proven that the Higgs field exists, and if we were to understand it better than we do now, does current theory suggest that we could alter the mass of particles?

 

[mathman]

Hello,

This is my first post and I'm by no means a professional, but I am trying to sort out my understanding of the Higgs field theory. As I understand it, particles acquire mass through their interaction with the Higgs field, an electron being the "lightest" and a Top Quark being the "heaviest". My---no doubt absurd---question is this: under the current theory, would it be possible for a particle's interaction to be modified through some method? In other words, if it is proven that the Higgs field exists, and if we were to understand it better than we do now, does current theory suggest that we could alter the mass of particles?

Not too likely. experimental evidence points to constant rest mass for all fundamental particles (neutrinos are a little confusing).