Understanding the Relationship Between Mass and the Higgs Field

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between mass and the Higgs field, particularly focusing on how mass is derived from interactions with the Higgs field. Participants explore theoretical implications and clarify concepts related to mass and energy in the context of quantum field theory.

Discussion Character

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

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the mass of a particle interacting with the Higgs field can be understood as the energy stored in the Higgs field due to that interaction.
  • Another participant counters this idea, stating that mass and energy stored in a field are not directly comparable due to differences in their units and definitions.
  • A third participant introduces the notion of self-interaction of the Higgs field, suggesting it raises interesting questions but clarifies that it does not directly relate to the measured mass of particles.
  • A later reply speculates about the implications of the volume integral being infinite in the context of the Higgs field.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between mass and energy in the context of the Higgs field, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the definitions of mass and energy, as well as the implications of self-interaction within the Higgs field. Some assumptions about the nature of these concepts remain unaddressed.

Ibix
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Perhaps a Higgnorant question? Anyway. Am I correct in thinking that the mass of a Higgs-field-interacting particle is the energy stored in the Higgs field by that interaction?
 
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No. Without going into details, it does not even have the same units. Energy stored in a field would have an energy density (energy per volume), while the Higgs mass has an energy, without a volume.
 
The question of how much energy does the Higgs receives from self interaction is a interesting one, but indeed it is not directly related to the measured mass.
 
mfb: I bet the volume integral is infinite, right?

Thanks for your replies. I think I need an easy reader quantum field theory book.
 

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