What's an electron doing between interactions?

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    Electron Interactions
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the behavior of electrons, particularly in relation to their quantum spin states and interactions with the Higgs field. Participants explore concepts of quantum mechanics, superposition, and the implications of these ideas on the nature of particles and their mass. The conversation includes theoretical interpretations and popular explanations, as well as questions about the nature of particles between interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that electrons are constantly flipping between two quantum spin states, with energy exchanges involving the Higgs field contributing to their mass.
  • Others challenge the notion of constant spin flipping, suggesting that quantum mechanics does not provide a clear picture of what occurs between observations.
  • There is a suggestion that the concept of spin flipping may be a metaphor for quantum superposition rather than a literal description of electron behavior.
  • Some participants express curiosity about the origins of certain explanations regarding electron behavior and their reception among physicists.
  • A participant references a lecture discussing the behavior of massless particles and their spin, noting the implications of traveling at the speed of light.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of electron spin and interactions with the Higgs field, with no consensus reached on the interpretations of these phenomena. Some agree on the metaphorical nature of spin flipping, while others emphasize the limitations of quantum mechanics in describing unobserved states.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on interpretations of quantum mechanics and the lack of consensus on the implications of particle behavior between interactions. The discussion also reflects varying levels of acceptance of popular science explanations among participants.

newjerseyrunner
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I know an electron is constantly flipping between two quantum spin states. I know that one spin takes slightly more energy than the other and it gets and drops this energy into and from the Higgs field, which gives it mass. The default behavior of all particles is to travel at the speed of light, only interaction with the Higgs field causes any other speed.

So here's my question, if the interaction with the Higgs field is what's causing the spin flips, what's going on in between? Is the electron not interacting with the Higgs field during that time? If not, is it traveling at the speed of light and doing momentary pauses during interaction which causes a statistical velocity of less than c?

Or is the question completely non-sensical since it's in a superposition of all possible paths?
 
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Can you explain that with a mathematical model?
 
newjerseyrunner said:
I know an electron is constantly flipping between two quantum spin states.

That's wrong.

What's going on between observations QM is silent about.

QM is a theory about observations that appear in a common-sense classical world that exists independent of conciousness, observers etc - basically free of all the junk you read in pop-sci accounts. Anything beyond that the theory says nothing - although interpretations have various takes.

Thanks
Bill
 
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newjerseyrunner said:
I know an electron is constantly flipping between two quantum spin states. I know that one spin takes slightly more energy than the other and it gets and drops this energy into and from the Higgs field, which gives it mass. The default behavior of all particles is to travel at the speed of light, only interaction with the Higgs field causes any other speed.
I've never seen this explained that way. Can I ask where it came from?
 
Feeble Wonk said:
I've never seen this explained that way. Can I ask where it came from?
It came from astrophycistist Matthew O’Dowd
 
Fascinating. I'm curious about how this narration is received by the "orthodox" physicists here. They frequently don't care much for the popularizations of these subjects for us laypeople. Any opinions from the smart table?
 
I think this "spin flipping back and forth" thing is a metaphor for quantum superposition of the two spin states.
 
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jtbell said:
I think this "spin flipping back and forth" thing is a metaphor for quantum superposition of the two spin states.
But there is apparently an "energetic" interaction between the superposed electron state and the Higgs field that has something to do with asymmetry in spin chirality. Would you care to offer a dumbed down explanation of that?
 
I watched a lecture from Nima Arkani that sort of explained why we have spin 2 massless particles.

The explanation was that because mass-less articles travel at the speed of light, they can only spin in two directions, "frontwards" and "backwards", because everything in between would mean that it would have to be going slower then light to have such a spin state (In other words it would have a mass). His example was as follows :

If you were to travel along with this mass-less particle as it goes at the speed of light, you wouldn't be able to see it in any other state, because if you were to see it spinning in any other direction, it would imply FTL travel.

I may be butchering what he said, so if i find the lecture in question that I'm referring to i'll link it here so that there's no confusion.
EDIT: I believe this is the video. at 18:56 He begins talking about what i just spoke of
 
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