The discussion centers around the nature of the Higgs field, specifically why it is classified as a scalar field. Participants explore its properties, its role in giving mass to elementary particles, and the distinction between the Higgs field and the Higgs boson. The conversation includes theoretical implications and the concept of spontaneous symmetry breaking.
Participants express a range of views on the nature and implications of the Higgs field, with some agreeing on its classification as a scalar field while others raise questions about its homogeneity and the implications of symmetry breaking. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.
Some limitations include the dependence on definitions of scalar fields and the nuances of symmetry breaking, which are not fully explored in the discussion. There are also unresolved mathematical steps regarding the integration of the Higgs field into theoretical models.
Is it possible you're confusing the Higgs field with the Higgs boson? The Higgs field is a uniform background scalar field whose existence permits other particles to have mass in an electroweak gauge invariant manner. The Higgs boson is an excitation of the Higgs field. Since the Higgs field is a scalar field, the Higgs boson has spin 0.as i understand it the higgs field is a spin-0 scalar field that gives mass to elementry particles. How is it a scalar field? I thought it was homogenous.
Like other components of the Standard Model, Higg's fields are manual insertions [mathematical additions] individually tailored with the specific properties needed to provide different particles with observed mass; We need a mechanism of spontaneous symmetry breaking to bring forth mass; The Higgs Field provides such a tool. Symmetry transformations are generated on Hilbert space of states by unitary operators.The technically easiest way to achieve SSB in an interacting field theory is to introduce an effective scalar field and adjust its phenomenological potential so that it has a symmetry-breaking
MArkM: The weak force is mediated by three massive particles, called the W+, W-, and Z bosons. One important aspect of the Standard Model is electroweak symmetry - at a sufficiently high temperature (at a time immediately after the big bang), the weak force becomes indiscernible from the electromagnetic force. This means that the W and Z bosons were initially massless. Breaking this symmetry is the job of the Higgs field. Spin 1 particles like the W and Z bosons have at least two degrees of freedom. One way a massless particle could gain mass is by the absorption of a scalar (spin 0) particle as its longitudional mode (as it's second degree of freedom).
A scalar particle that does this is called a Nambu-Goldstone bosonUOTE]
edit: I see Bill_K posted while I was composing: "The Higgs boson is an excitation of the Higgs field."
yes...
so this is what we detect locally, a 'particle' meaning a quanta/excitation of the theoretical field.