Why does the existence of the Higgs Field require a Higgs Particle?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the relationship between the Higgs field and the Higgs particle, exploring the implications of the existence of the Higgs field for the necessity of a corresponding particle. Participants delve into theoretical aspects, including quantization and the nature of fields and particles in physics.

Discussion Character

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

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks clarification on how the existence of the Higgs field necessitates the existence of a Higgs particle.
  • Another participant draws a parallel between the Higgs field and the electromagnetic field, suggesting that just as the EM field implies the existence of photons, the Higgs field implies a Higgs particle.
  • A participant asserts that every field in physics has an associated particle, citing examples such as the electron field and the EM field, and notes that the Higgs field is no exception, despite its unique characteristics due to being a spin-0 field.
  • There is a question raised about the relationship between particles and fields, specifically whether particles create fields or if the existence of particles implies the existence of fields.
  • Another participant argues that the Higgs particle arises from a counting argument related to the degrees of freedom of the Higgs field, suggesting that massive particles obtain mass by "eating" certain degrees of freedom, leaving one remaining degree of freedom that manifests as a particle upon quantization.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between particles and fields, particularly regarding whether particles create fields or vice versa. There is no consensus on the necessity of the Higgs particle arising from the Higgs field, as various interpretations and arguments are presented.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the quantization process and the implications of field theory, indicating that there may be missing assumptions or definitions that could clarify the discussion.

imsmooth
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I believe I understand how the Higgs field imparts "mass" on a particle. Would someone explain how the existence of the Higgs Field means there has to be a Higgs Particle?
 
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In the same way that the EM field implies the existence of a photon.

You have marked this thread "A", indicating that you have a graduate level understanding already. In that case, exactly which step in the quantisation of a scalar field do you find questionable?
 
Any field in physics has an associated particle. For instance electron field, EM field (photons), sound field (phonons), W boson field. All these are linear and support wave solutions, therefore wave packet solutions. I.e., a so-called "particle". There's more to it, but that's the basic idea. There's nothing special about Higgs field in that regard although spin 0 makes the details a bit different.
 
I should have marked my understanding as "I".

Don't photons create their EM field? Isn't the EM field there because of the photons? So, if the Higgs is so rare because of its short existence, how does it create its field? It is probably my lack of understanding of if the particle creates the field or the existence of the particle implies a field exists.
 
imsmooth said:
I should have marked my understanding as "I".
Fixed it.
Don't photons create their EM field? Isn't the EM field there because of the photons?
It's the other way around. We have an EM field, and when we quantize it we discover that it supports quantized excitations that we call "photons". There's a pretty decent overview (but not even close to being a substitute for a real textbook) at:
http://www.physics.usu.edu/torre/3700_Spring_2015/What_is_a_photon.pdf
 
imsmooth said:
I believe I understand how the Higgs field imparts "mass" on a particle. Would someone explain how the existence of the Higgs Field means there has to be a Higgs Particle?
It is a counting argument. The massive particles obtain their mass because they "eat" certain degrees of freedom of the Higgs field. At the end this leaves you with one remaining degree of freedom, which shows itself as a dynamical field on its own. After quantizing it, you get a particle from this, similar to how one obtains a photon from an EM-field.
 

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