The Higgs FAQ 2.0

The Higgs FAQ 2.
0 | Of Particular Significance
http://profmattstrassler.com/articles-and-posts/the-higgs-particle/...
Of Particular Significance
Conversations About Science with Theoretical Physicist Matt Strassler
ber 12, 2012]
very long overdue) version of the Higgs FAQ, intended for those with little or no
The old version (from long before the Higgs-like particle was discovered in July
r physics in your background, you may also find it useful, after you read this FAQ,
Why the Higgs Particle Matters. Or you could read it first, if you like.
ath in your background (algebra, trig, and calculus through derivatives) and a
ow what energy is, what a ball on a spring does, and have thought at least once
e) then, after reading this FAQ, you may want to follow up by reading my
, followed by my explanation of the Higgs field and how it works.
ado, here we go.
gs particle?
field is the key to the story.
where in space and time,

ge, zero or not zero, and
field, its waves are made from particles.
ectric field is a part of nature that is found everywhere. At any given point in space,
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The Higgs FAQ 2.0 | Of Particular Significance
time, you can measure it. If its non-zero on average in some region, it can have
as making your hair stand on end or causing a spark. The electric field can also
the size of the field repeatedly becomes larger and smaller visible light is such a
nd radio waves, and all the other things we collectively call electromagnetic
aves cannot be of arbitrary intensity; they cant be arbitrarily `dim, or `quiet. The
that a field can have is called a quantum or a particle. It often
rdance with your intuitive notion of particle, moving in a straight line and
off of things, etc., which is why we give it that name.
tric field, its particles are called photons; they represent the dimmest possible
sorb light one photon at a time (though it typically waits for several photons to
a signal to your brain.) A laser produces very intense waves, but if you shield a
that only a tiny fraction of the light gets through, you will find, if you shield it
passes through the screen in little blips single photons all of them equally
[BIG! 284 MB and 23 minutes, unfortunately; and youll get the point after
h demonstrates this effect; the screen registers the light one photon at a time.
if you want to learn what the whole video is about.)
Higgs wave is a ripple in the Higgs field, and the Higgs particle is the smallest
such wave.
my way-too-short version of the story. I will try to give a much more detailed and
nt of particles and fields, with pictures and analogies and dancing bears, before
rsion requiring a little math and physics background, such as one would get from
of university-level physics, is already available here.
physicists care so much about the Higgs particle?
ont. What they really care about is the Higgs field, because it is so important.
rtant about the Higgs field?
e most of the elementary fields of nature) has a non-zero average value

universe. And because it does, many particles have mass, including the electron,
d Z particles of the weak interactions. If the Higgs fields average value were zero,
be massless or very light. That would be a disaster; atoms and atomic nuclei would
g like human beings, or the earth we live on, could exist without the
a non-zero average value. Our lives truly depend upon it.
w about the Higgs field?
ly just that its there, and that it has a non-zero value. We have some limited
w it interacts with matter, but not much. But the recent discovery of what may be
s particle may soon give us additional insights.
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is so important, why is there so much hype about finding the Higgs particle?
ing the Higgs particle (or whatever takes its place, see below) is the easiest (and
physicists to learn about the Higgs field which is what we really want. In that
Higgs particle is the first big step toward the main goal: understanding
he Higgs field and why it has a non-zero average value.
ur modern media world insists on generating hype. And since explaining the Higgs
ts relation to the Higgs particle takes too long for a typical news report or
and people talking to them, typically cut the story short. So the Higgs particle gets
e the poor Higgs field labors in obscurity, protecting the universe from catastrophe
s deserved credit
ure theres a Higgs field?
add comments to that yes. We are sure, from the results of many experiments
nterpretation with mathematical equations, there is some field that has a
ue and makes the electron, the W and Z particles, and many other elementary
s permitting our world and our lives to exist. The evidence is more than
ll that field the Higgs field essentially by definition.
any things we dont know. For instance:
one Higgs field, or there might be several of them, each with its own type of particle
referred to as Higgs particles.)
ld may in fact be an agglomeration or composite of several other fields. We have
h things in nature already for example, just as a proton is a composite object
ks, antiquarks and gluons, the proton field is a composite field made from quark,
luon fields and we dont know whether the Higgs is an elementary field, as is the
a composite of more elementary fields, as is the proton field.
how many Higgs fields there are, whether they are elementary or not, and how
particles we know and perhaps ones we dont yet know, is to run an experiment:
, or LHC.
entary mean?
the answer is circular it means not composite. Cant be broken apart into more
more precisely, it cant be broken into parts using the technology we have now.
protons were elementary. Before that they thought atoms were elementary
Compo Elements.)
sicists sure theres a Higgs particle?
The only reason we are almost certain they exist is from recent experimental
012. At that time a new particle was discovered, and all the evidence so far suggests
ggs particle but results are still not absolutely conclusive. By March 2013 we
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knew for sure was that either
one type of Higgs particle, and we will find it (or them) at the LHC, or
fall apart too rapidly for us to identify them, but only because they are
ted by new particles and forces that we will be able to discover at the LHC
d something: apparently, option 2 is false. Although there might not have been a
re, it appears there is one. And now, to learn more about the Higgs field, we need
type of Higgs particle, and what its properties are.
d even many physicists say explicitly that the LHC was built to find the Higgs
hats happened, isnt the LHC done with its task?
t you read in the press are white lies, and deeply unfortunate ones. The correct
LHC was built to figure out what the Higgs field is (or Higgs fields are),
hey work), and whether it is (or they are) elementary or composite.
dying the Higgs particle(s) is the way to do that. Let us not confuse the ends
derstanding the field is the end goal! Finding and studying the particle or particles
re is much left to do at the LHC as far as studying the particle thats been found and
hat might be awaiting discovery.
e Higgs particle has been found. Is that true?

correct and precise statements are
cted in 2011 and the first half of 2012, a new particle was discovered at the LHC;
ehavior is still little-studied, but it is consistent with the behavior expected of a
Higgs particle;
nsistent with the behavior of the simplest type of Higgs particle the so-called
s a new type of particle that might well be a Higgs particle of some form, possibly
Higgs particle in nature, and perhaps even a Standard Model Higgs. But only
udy over the coming few years will clarify its true nature and allow us to
ut the Higgs field as a result. And meanwhile well also need to keep looking for
that are more difficult to find; just because weve found one so far doesnt mean
e or twelve of them!
absolutely completely 100% cross-your-heart sure that there is a Higgs field in
ay absolutely yes very often, but here I do. If you try to take the Higgs field out of
keep the W and Z particles and the other heavy particles (such as the top quark)
discovered and know are present in nature, you will find that the mathematics of
imply makes no sense. You get a theory that predicts that certain processes
he LHC can study) occur with a probability bigger than one. Sorry, that cant
unsound. The probability of anything obviously cannot be bigger than one or less
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it is very hard to write down logically sound theories. Most theories that you
egative probabilities or probabilities bigger than one. Only a very, very few make
of the Standard Model to working order, you must add a Higgs field, or something
at we have already discovered experimentally. But there are many possibilities as
d the only way to figure out which one is right is to run an experiment namely,
s particle often called the Higgs boson? (pronounced boh-zon)
ture whether elementary or not can be divided into two classes, fermions and
me weird exceptions inside certain solid materials; I tell you this only to avoid
n at my head by some of my colleagues.] It happens that the Higgs particle is a
ctually very important for what it does or why we want to find and study it.
s particle called the God particle?
inks it sounds cool and that it gets readers to read their stories. The origin of the
non-religious and non-scientific as one could imagine: it was invented as
or and Nobel Prize Winner Leon Lederman, a very important experimental
s enormous credit for his contributions to the field, deserves some serious
llowed his book on the Higgs particle to be assigned this attention-getting title
between inappropriate and blasphemous, depending on where you come from.
m use this moniker in a talk that he gave while I was in grad school, my jaw hit the
physics even then to know how completely absurd it was.
seen a physicist refer to the Higgs particle in this way in the context of a scientific
erence, or even an informal scientific discussion. Theres nothing in the
ns, in the interpretation of the physics, in any philosophy of which I am aware, or
r tradition with which I am familiar that connects the Higgs particle or the Higgs
of religion or divinity. The nickname is pure invention.
s not healthy for either science or religion to be pushed around by the need of the
o sell books, or the media to sell stories. The sooner we drop this notion, the better.
particle decays rapidly, so how can it create or support the Higgs field? What I
s to imply that there is this sea of Higgs particles and this somehow sets up the
t wouldnt work if the Higgs particle existed for just an instant.
t have to be created by a process; it is just *there*, the way the electric field of
ways and everywhere.
non-zero value in nature on average. (The electric field is zero on average). This
just *there*; it doesnt have to be generated by a process. It is simply the preferred
or the Higgs field to be non-zero. We dont know why, but nobody has to do
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the Higgs field is not to be thought of as a sea of Higgs particles; that is the wrong
ticle is a ripple of minimal intensity in the Higgs field; a ripple varies over space
wave does. But the non-zero value of the Higgs field is constant over space and
A pretty good analogy: the density of the air is a field; it has a constant average
r are sound waves; and there is no sense in which the constant average density of
ught of as built up from a sea of sound waves, which are evanescent ripples in the
t formed spontaneously. You have to put energy in. You have to use something like
der proton-proton collision to whack the Higgs field and make it wiggle, just as you
ds to make sound, hit the surface of a lake to make a ripple, or pluck a violin string
st as a ripple dies away after a while, and a violin string eventually stops vibrating,
ecay away too. The air, the lake, the violin string, and the Higgs field remain
ting dissipates.
ticles dont normally exist? I think this is why you also mentioned that there are no
n the room I am in, yet my electrons have mass. What role, if any, does the Higgs
the mass mechanism? I was thinking they might be a force carrier particle like the
force, but it doesnt sound like Higgs particle is supposed to do this. At a recent
k Close, I asked him about whether there are Higgs particles in the room and he
they could bubble into existence by borrowing energy for a moment and then
So there would be Higgs particles in the room. Do you agree with that picture?
es not have any role to play in the mass mechanism. Its the Higgs field in
at its average value is non-zero which gives mass to the various particles. Its the
nt to understand, not the particle the particle is a means to an end, not an end in
a ripple in the Higgs field, and studying the Higgs particle can tell us something
For more about this, take a look at my video clips on the matter, from my Secret
p://profmattstrassler.com/videoclips/
ual Higgs particles in the room, but virtual particles are not particles at all, despite
cles are nicely behaved waves in the Higgs field, whereas virtual Higgs particles
s of disturbances in the Higgs field. Higgs particles have a definite mass; virtual
http://profmattstrassler.com/articles-and-posts/particle-physics-basics
at-are-they/ So Frank Close wasnt really lying to you, but he wasnt really being
was telling you is the standard white-lie most theoretical physicists usually tell
deeply misleading that it confuses people terribly (as I see regularly, through the
) so I urge you to disregard it.
d by a particle interacting (moving through) the Higgs Field then is the field
article or both? If a particle is static (not moving) relative to the Higgs Field, can it
e moving, you are not moving relative to the Higgs field. That sounds bizarre, but
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else bizarre: that no matter how you are moving, light is moving about relative to
d, namely 300,000 meters per second. Our intuition for space and time is not
Einstein figured out and it is possible for there to be fields that are at rest with
ass is the same no matter what it is doing stationary relative to you or moving
hats important, because a particle is always stationary relative to itself! so it
point of view, should have the same mass.
to the particles mass as having something to do with the field being like molasses,
le, are problematic analogies because they make it seem as though a particle must
feel the effect of Higgs field, whereas in fact that is not the case.
lls on things proportional to their mass, and since the Higgs field is responsible for
g its mass, there obviously must be a deep connection between the Higgs and
ss, but it turns out to be completely wrong. The problem is that this statement
ury notion of gravity, long ago revised, with an overly simplified version of a
ion of where masses of various particles comes from. Let me bring out my
and correct the statement above with a red pen:
lls on things proportional to their mass to a combination of their energy and

d since the Higgs field is responsible of giving everything not everything, just the
ary particles excepting the Higgs particle itself its mass, there obviously must be a
between the Higgs and gravity right? wrong.
hese corrections.
about gravity in school, you learn Newtons law: that the force of gravity between
and one of mass M2, has a strength proportional to the product M1 M2.
ore Einstein. It turns out that Newtons law needs to be revised: the Einsteinian
s (roughly) that for two objects that are slow-moving (i.e. their speed relative to
ess than c, the speed of light) and have energy E1 and E2, the gravitational force
trength proportional to the product E1 E2.
atements, the Newtonian and the Einsteinian, consistent? They are consistent
his followers established that for any ordinary object, the relation between its
p and mass M [sometimes called rest mass, but just called `mass by particle
ject, p Mv (where v is the objects velocity) and pc Mvc is much smaller than
.e., E M c2 for slow objects)
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and artificial satellites all move with velocities well below 0.1% of c relative to each
the gravitational forces between them are proportional to
ant, for such objects Einsteins law of gravity and Newtons law of gravity are
; the force law is proportional to the product of the energies and to the product of
he two are proportional to one another.
ave high speeds relative to one another, or for objects subject to extremely strong
hich will quickly develop high speeds if they dont have them already), the
vity involves a complicated combination of momentum and energy, in which mass
pear. This is why Einsteins version of gravity even pulls on things like light, which
s that have no mass at all. (And it is why gravitational waves waves in space and
ke light can be formed by objects that are orbiting one another.) Simply put, the
avity (now reasonably well confirmed by experiment) differs significantly from the
in particular, it is not mass but energy and momentum which are primary. And all
hat they are made from or how they are moving from your point of view, have
ng in the universe exerts a gravitational effect on everything else. We say gravity is

here the term is not referring not to the universe but to the notion of universality
field being the source for all mass in the universe? This statement, though you will
ess or in glib articles written for the public, is false.
ment? Well, here is a list of the elementary particles that we know about so far. The
(the latter presumed to exist)
tom, charm, strange, up, down

: electrons, muons, taus
types (at least two and probably all three with small masses)
covered new particle with a mass of 125 GeV/c2 (which I will assume for now is a
f some type)
W and Z particles, the quarks, the charged leptons and the neutrinos must get
gs field. Its not possible for them to have masses any other way. But this is not
ggs particle does not entirely come from the Higgs field!
come from? Oh, thats a long story that ends in a question rather than an answer. I
omeday. For now, suffice it to say that the mass of the Higgs particle does not have
rstood source, and the curious feature is that its mass is so small this is one
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us puzzle called the hierarchy problem.
iggs field is not the universal giver of mass to elementary particles. The Higgs
mass, at least in part, from elsewhere. And it probably isnt alone. It is very possible
ade from particles, and these too probably get at least part of their mass from
matter is believed by most physicists and astronomers to be the majority of the
e; it is believed to provide the majority of the mass of the Milky Way Galaxy that we
ld likely provides little of that mass.
masses from sources other than the Higgs particle. The majority of the mass of an
ot its lightweight electrons on the outside. And nuclei are made from protons and
mprisoned or confined quarks, antiquarks and gluons. These quarks, antiquarks
around inside their little prison at very high speeds, and the masses of the proton
uch due to those energies, and to the energy that is needed to trap the quarks etc.
due to the masses of the quarks and antiquarks contained within the bag. So the
ons masses do not come predominantly from the Higgs field. [Experts:
re, having to do with how the Higgs field affects the confinement scale; but even
for, the statement remains essentially true.] So the mass of the earth, or the mass
nge, but not enormously, if there were no Higgs field assuming they could hold
would not be true of the earth.
h are some of the most massive objects in the universe, holding court at the centers
in principle be made entirely from massless things. You can make a black hole
s, in principle. In practise most black holes are made from ordinary matter, but
ss is mostly from atomic nuclei, and as we just noted, that doesnt come entirely
the Higgs field is not the universal giver of mass to things in the
inary atomic matter, not to dark matter, not to black holes. To most known
s, yes and it is crucial in ensuring that atoms exist at all. But there would be just
ravitational physics going on in the universe if there were no Higgs field. There just
s, or any people to study them.
more technically whether, in the equations that physicists study, there is any
tion between gravity and the Higgs field. The answer is no. Gravitational fields
escribed as part of space and time; they interact with all particles and fields in
d, which has spin 0, only interacts directly with elementary particles and fields that
electromagnetic and weak nuclear forces.
he Higgs has something to do with gravity is natural for a non-expert, but I am

mes from misunderstanding both
which is not universal: it gives masses to most of the known elementary particles
iggs particle itself, and not to protons and neutrons, dark matter (most likely), or
ravity, which is universal and has to do with energy and momentum but not mass
ost certainly does pull on protons and neutrons, dark matter and black holes even
sses dont come entirely from the Higgs field.
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e appearances at first glance, the relation between gravity and the Higgs is just skin
ense to seek a fundamental explanation for the values of the *masses* of

icles, why do we not also seek explanations for the particular values of the *charge*
ese particles?
m field theory (the type of equations used in particle physics) mass turns out to be
arge and spin. The charge and spin of a particle are fixed; once specified, they are
s can be changed dynamically from zero to non-zero, and once non-zero the precise
ass is determined, in a very complex quantum mechanical way, by the strength and
s interactions with all of the other types of particles. [A similar complexity affects
So the question of where the masses (and strengths of forces) come from turns
erent nature from the question where the charges and spins come from.
eld always been non-zero?
history of the universe, which we dont know well enough yet. It is quite possible
emely short time when the universe was very hot and the Higgs fields value was
n possible there was an extremely short time when all of the fields we know about
nd recognition (as might happen in a different vacuum of the landscape of fields,
string theory landscape but this need have nothing to do with string theory.) Or
me. The history of the universe before the Big Bang may have been very short or it
ong; we really have no idea.
eld has been non-zero ever since the current universe-as-we-know-it has been
ion billion degrees since a tiny fraction of a second after the current Big Bang is
ations of the Standard Model of particle physics not yield a prediction of exactly
Higgs particle will have?
f unknown constants that appear in the Standard Models equations. These include
ectromagnetic, weak nuclear and strong nuclear forces, and the numbers that
becomes non-zero) determine the various masses of the known matter particles.
s that determine how some of those particles decay. And finally, the Higgs particles
ned by the equations, most of these numbers have been determined by

ly the strengths of the forces and the masses of the matter particles have all been
have to measure the Higgs particles mass in experiment (assuming we find it) to
r associated with it.
er the Standard Model predicts anything, since so much has to be determined by

wer is: Oh my goodness, yes!!!! We do have to measure about 20 numbers first,
d Model makes thousands of successful predictions, for a huge diversity of
ny decades. For instance: it predicts the W and Z particles masses, and how often
experimental facilities such as LEP, Tevatron and the LHC; it predicts how quickly
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they decay; it predicts how all the matter particles decay, in great detail; it predicts
e of the electron to 12 decimal places and that of the muon to 8 or so; it predicts
are produced and how, in detail, they decay I think I should stop here.
obably more by now) of successful predictions out of 20 measured inputs is a huge

we do very much want to know where these 20 or so inputs come from, and we
r ongoing experiments will give us clues.
n mind that the Standard Model contains the simplest possible version of the Higgs
ell not be what nature actually possesses. So were not just interested in the Higgs
ck how it behaves. See http://profmattstrassler.com/articles-and-posts/the-higgs-model-higgs/ and the various articles to which it links.
283
Google
THE HIGGS FAQ 2.0
ggs and Gravity are Unrelated | Of Particular Significance
ober 16, 2012 at 6:59 AM | Reply
ou move the long response as to why the Higgs field and gravity are
to the *end* of the FAQ. Folks who might otherwise balk at reading the
r stop at the introduction of some mathematics will miss the excellent
hough I think it will still leave the novices scratching their heads over
lly *is* the details here are still somewhat abstract.
October 16, 2012 at 12:58 PM | Reply
he explanation seems to be a little convoluted, but of course this is very

ess. A question of my own: Does the mass of electrons and muons come
s field, and can we derive the relationship of these two masses?
iggs Field Give the Higgs Particle Its Mass, or Not? | Of Particular Significance
, On the Other Side of the Planet | Of Particular Significance
Little Soul-Searching | Of Particular Significance
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December 3, 2012 at 6:13 PM | Reply
ank you for all the effort and time you have put into this web site,
od chance I should not even comment on this site. However , I have
e a lot of other people. One is lead down this path. Again before D and E
ure A,B and C are. Before you can have a field , you need a derivitive,
us time. Can anyone prove time is continuous ? There is a simple story
apologize if this is inappropriate here.

December 3, 2012 at 6:33 PM | Reply
use do not require that time be continuous, only that the discreteness of
steps that are short compared to 10^(-26) seconds or so. All evidence
(such as the LHC) indicates that time is approximately continuous
e scales. For instance, that is about how long it takes for a Z boson to
riments do *not* prove time is continuous at shorter time steps. If time
ps of 10^(-43) seconds, for instance, we wouldnt know it from current
e equations of quantum field theory, we often do (as a crutch) first

pace are discrete. We then make the discreteness smaller and smaller,
ematicians do in defining an integral from a serious of rectangular areas.
we use are in fact obtained by first taking a discrete version of the
e use this technique, we can (and do) explicitly check that discreteness
use a measurable change in the physics equations as long as the
me is short enough compared to the time scales of the physics processes
in our experiments.
December 5, 2012 at 8:10 AM | Reply
u. What implication does the recent LHC discovery have, if any, on

super-symmetry?
none, except for people have a very strong prejudice about how string
upersymmetry.
y? considerable, but unfortunately very complicated and detailed. Many

supersymmetry are ruled out, but other simple variants and many
plex variants are still allowed by this data. It would probably be better to
more data from LHC so that more easily interpretable statements can
middle of next year.
ust 8, 2014 at 3:50 AM | Reply
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respect from me for writing these helpful arleitcs.
roton field before. Are there quantum fields of more complex compound
an ethanol field, a DNA field, a VW Beetle field?
, but. The concept of a quantum field is something we find useful when

m phenomena, and if there arent any interesting quantum phenomena
unnecessary baggage that doesnt help you predict or think. The art of
t is knowing when a concept, though available in principle,
time in practice; so it is with a quantum field for DNA or VW Beetles,
ol under most circumstances.
do atomic physics of, say, hydrogen, the notion of an electron field and a
gh available, are mostly useless, unless we are doing extremely precise
ich case the electron field becomes needed. But the electromagnetic
atoms together, and whose particles are photons] must be treated as a

often be treated as a classical [i.e. non-quantum] field for some
u want to understand the light emitted from glowing gasses or hot
use the fact that the electromagnetic field is a quantum field.
ess on the part of scientists is something that often seems surprising to

t for instance we may treat the earth as a point when we try to
orbits the sun; we cant treat it as a point but may treat it as a perfect
ant to make rough estimates of how much light it absorbs from the sun;
treat it in great detail as slightly-pear-shaped if we want to correctly
ommercial satellites. In truth the earth has lots of mountains and
nt need to know those details for most purposes. And yes, a VW Beetle
hanical object, just like you, but this does not in the slightest affect most
, and theres no benefit in thinking about it.
Bosons? No Evidence for That | Of Particular Significance
ancy of the Heavens Verified Anew | Of Particular Significance
nd The Higgs-Like Particle? | Of Particular Significance
ound | Of Particular Significance
e End of the World | Of Particular Significance
at 10:59 PM | Reply
d in the context of the speed light.

beyond this speed could explain maybe much more!
r dark matter.
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tal theory of all(i think) cannot be proven if you consider the speed of
s or detecting energy cannot be observed further more with the

peed is the limit. I think that E=mc2 is valid within the bounderies of
serving thing(entities). Quantum mechanics is a way to assume to
n. But if one dares to exlpain dark energy or particles, maybe one needs
r or energy leaving the speed of light.
fort, it was very helpful for me, but I have some questions;
mass from Higgs field, and and protons are made from quarks,
ns, how come protons dont get their mass from Higgs field?
2013! | Of Particular Significance
uary 14, 2013 at 9:03 PM | Reply
n mathematician I must start by saying thanks for your efforts to make

tandable to people like me.
to get my head round the idea that the speed of light was invariant, now
ter how you are moving, you are not moving relative to the Higgs field.
y one of your low-tech explanations to this concept.
January 15, 2013 at 10:47 AM | Reply
ordinary empty space for a minute. If you were out floating in empty
earth, could you tell if you were moving through it? No. Empty space
se to nothing as you can imagine. It doesnt make any sense to ask if
ative to it; theres no experiment you could do to even ask this question.
you are moving relative to physical objects. Even if you and I are
each other, there is no experiment that we can do which will be able to
r the other of us is stationary with respect to space itself.
ld does is change some of the underlying properties of empty space. But

pty space into a physical object, and theres no meaning to asking
oving relative to it.
to what would happen if you filled empty space with, say, air. Now
ating around in empty space and you can ask if you are moving
ff. If you are, youll feel a wind, because the air its physical molecules
tuff corresponding to the Higgs field, so even if you and I are moving
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her, neither of us will feel any Higgs wind nor is there any experiment
ch will be able to ask whether one or the other of us is stationary with
gs field. Under normal circumstances, its as unmeasurable as space
ing that we can do to really make sure that it is there at all is make it
and see if it wiggles and thats what were doing at the Large Hadron
e proton collisions whack the universe, and the Higgs particle is a
the Higgs field.
e a particular fascination with the idea of infinity, so I have done quite a

empty space. Your illustration makes sense to me, as far as that part
e same thinking to the Higgs field seems like saying that the Higgs field
ng as you can imagine.
that I cannot know if I am moving relative to the Higgs field, because I

owever, elementary particles react with it, so should it not be possible to
ng relative to the Higgs field?

January 15, 2013 at 2:38 PM | Reply
ou are made from elementary particles, so you DO react with it.
ementary particles) interact with it the same way no matter how you are
nce of the Higgs field is NOT like having air in a room. It changes the
e; it does not fill space with stuff. The latter provides a notion that you
elative to the stuff; the former does not change the fact that there is no
ng in motion relative to space.
y 15, 2013 at 3:47 PM | Reply
ve question, but Im going to ask it, anyway.
n be measured as zero or non-zero. If it is measured as zero, in what

to be measuring anything? How can you be sure the field is actually
pples in the field. For example, even in a room where the electric field
are zero, the passage of radio waves (or light or microwaves or any
electric and magnetic fields) through the room proves the electric and
st; an electrically charged object or a magnet will wiggle back and forth
and indeed our radios use this fact.
y 15, 2013 at 3:50 PM | Reply
16, there. Why? I have no idea. I think I can safely blame my wife. :)
15 of 29
10/21/15 10:32 AM
g happens again, I am Bill Stidwill.

that if waves could be measured in a field, the field measurement would
he field could be zero or non-zero ***on average***. At some points in

e dropped the on average modifier, but where I introduced the idea,
omment clearly appears.
ht, of course, you did say on average.
ng the excitement of trying to grasp concepts I wish I had had a chance

decades ago and never let anyone tell you you will have plenty of
retire. So please be patient if penetration takes a while.
have is that fields permeate the cosmos. (Is this theory, or is there any
een/could be established?)
y be measured as zero or non-zero, at any point in space. (Is that their
bserving disturbances in them.

plies to the gravitational field, because, although gravity waves have not
ectly, we can detect it only because it is disturbed by the presence of
en by disturbances is that of waves.

ntum field the waves are [also] particles. Are there any fields that cannot
iated with fields, but only at quantum level is this of significance in the
ur comments/corrections with or without your red pen. :)
Find a Higgs ? Well not quite. But they probably found a New Particle ! and extended
| Cosmology Science 2011-2013 David Dilworth
ll the Time(s) | Of Particular Significance
ond, Higgs Evidence Piles Up | Of Particular Significance
ch 9, 2013 at 5:37 PM | Reply
16 of 29
10/21/15 10:32 AM
lified explanation of how everything can be stationary relative to the

es perfect sense even to me.
dering about one thing, though: all the explanations I have seen for how
mass to fundamental particles involves these particles moving relative to
f the Higgs-Like Particle | Of Particular Significance
no excess in Higgs decays to photons | Of Particular Significance
ssor Kaku? Why? | Of Particular Significance
dom | Science Events in New York City
ch 23, 2013 at 5:54 PM | Reply
on this site, and in other places, I may have answered my own
why descriptions of how the Higgs field gives mass to elementary

ves motion, and how this can work without motion relative to the Higgs
cience minister in John Majors Government, needed a layman-level

ggs mechanism in order to make a case for continued funding for the
ered a bottle of Champagne to the physicist who could provide the best
English, on one sheet of paper. David Miller won with an analogy that
atcher walking through a room full of party workers.
ualise the mechanism by which the Higgs field gives mass to

such as the electron? We will try to visualise it, first, by thinking of a
he electromagnetic (EM) field. It too permeates space, where, on
ero; only locally is it non-zero. At a time and place at which it is
visible effects, for example, a persons hair might stand up. Thus we can
as being turned on (non-zero) or turned off (zero).
e other hand, is, on average, non-zero throughout space. In other

tly turned on. Those things which react with it, react with it all the time
presence. No motion is necessary.
March 24, 2013 at 11:51 AM | Reply
ms of the existing analogies, and your statements about the Higgs field,
nalogies are wrong, because as you say, they involve motion, whereas
iggs field does to particle masses cant have to do with motion, since an
ass from the Higgs field even when it is standing still. The only thing
at youve said still begs the question: yes, but how does the Higgs field,
17 of 29
10/21/15 10:32 AM
e certain particles mass?
an article soon saying much of what you just said and trying to answer
w the Higgs field does what it does, in laypersons terms and without
lic talk last week in which I gave this a try, and it seemed to work pretty
ch 24, 2013 at 5:02 PM | Reply
ents. I didnt attempt the last question; I dont have the physics.
r laypersons article.
e, where even an old codger can learn lots. Helps to fend off dementia,
March 25, 2013 at 5:36 PM | Reply
elationship between the smallest wave in the higgs field and a particle
he LHC? You said the smallest wave in the Higgs field moves like a
hat wave/particle duality? Is this something like pair production where
ectrons particles from empty space by sending in gamma ray waves? I
ve, moving as a wave and would never end up being detectable as a
you explain?
*identity*: the smallest wave (meaning the wave of smallest height, or

antum field is a particle. A better term than a particle is a
ves like a particle because (a) it is indivisible and unbreakable; (b) you
wo, or three, or four of them, but not 23.45 of them or 0.26 of them; (c)
nd momentum and tends to travel in a straight line just like a particle;
rbed or emitted or bounces off of something, it does so as a whole, just
d yet it remains a wave, too; it vibrates, and it can interfere with itself
ggs particles.
tual problem here is the word particle; it is misleading. A Higgs

hoton or electron or indeed any elementary particle, really is a
article-like in some ways, wave-like in others, but in some ways it
on for particles and in some ways it violates our intuition for waves. But
quantum isnt both particle and wave; it is somewhere in between
(Not everyone you talk to might share this way of talking about it.) The
le duality is unfortunately ambiguous, so the answer is kind of: yes,
hings people mean when they speak of wave/particle duality.
thing to visualize, indeed I do not know anyone who can visualize it. I
it lies at the heart of why quantum field theory (which is naturally
wave) is used to describe particles. And the match between the
theory and the measurements we make cant be ignored, of course
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the mathematics suggests is happening cant be visualized.
nflation: The Higgs, The Inflaton, and Spin | Of Particular Significance
o this idea of a quantum, there still seems to be a disconnect between

his quantum which is really neither wave or particle and the idea that
real tangible particle at the LHC with a mass of ~126 GeV. There is a
you are explaining from a Higgs field perspective (the quantum) and the
ngible Higgs boson (reconstruct decays to something with a mass of 126
n the data). Can you bridge this chasm?
hing that has energy, momentum and mass; the real tangible particle
uantum of a Higgs wave. Im not sure if the problem youre raising
explained it (so that it wasnt clear that quantum=particle) or whether
worried about is the conceptual challenge of understanding why
nceptual issue better will indeed require some more work on my part. I
l how to explain this using freshman-level math,
assler.com/articles-and-posts/particle-physics-basics/fields-and-their. Ive recently figured out how to explain it, a little less thoroughly of
ing math, but I havent written it down yet. So that chasm, at least, will
math links to the formula mc^2 = hv, we can solve for v if we know the
ticle they found at 120GeV which translates into about 2.139 x 10^-22
2.13910^-22kg * (2.910^8)^2/6.6210-34 =
876132930513 Hz.
wfully high frequency for it to be a minimum frequency for the Higgs
nd why would we think it would have such a high minimum frequency?
imum frequency be something like 10 hz?
June 6, 2013 at 2:32 PM | Reply
did not comment on whether I correctly interpreted the minimum

Higgs Boson. 2.71 x 10^28 does seem insanely high. Is this correct and
und this Higgs boson, what exactly does that tell us about the Higgs
has a really high frequency? It would seem that the existence of the
rms the existence of the Higgs field, but we are no closer to having an
this field interacts with things like electrons.
19 of 29
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13 at 11:57 PM | Reply
ser like thing out of higgs bosons and zap it at a photon, what would
kshop in Princeton | Of Particular Significance
no | Misforsttt partikkel?
orces, and (w)Einstein | Of Particular Significance
ne 10, 2013 at 6:22 PM | Reply
the speed of light as 300,000 meters per second. Of course you meant
ion meters per second, or 300,000 kilometers per second, but as you
it less. Might I suggest just under 300 million meters per second as an
confusing the issue with a lot of digits (299,792,458), and yet doesnt
ks again for your wonderful web site.
Q has been very useful in understanding the Higgs particle and I thank
wers and incorporating them into your new 2.0 FAQ, but it still left me
here are still a lot of unknowns, like what is the Higgs field built out of
ass to the HIggs particle itself and protons and neutrons. That would
t of important stuff. I am concerned with explaining physics concepts to
ade up my own models of how things like mass, charge, magnetism
as most concerned about how the describe the Higgs field as being made
particles we are familiar with and make it provide the mass of all
de it up without reference to any existing theories, this might be
science fiction rather than of science, but I thought that readers of this
d in alternate models that a layperson could easily understand. The
n be found at this link:
1305.0075v1.pdf
what I learned from this FAQ to write the introduction to this paper,
t is speculation. While it is wild speculation, it manages to unite mass,
m under the same physical mechanism which only includes positrons
d be interested in your thoughts.
June 19, 2013 at 10:41 AM | Reply
is not (in current understanding, which may not be complete) built

ctric fields arent built from anything either, nor are up quark fields or
entary fields of nature are the fundamental ingredients of the universe
thing else is built; the Higgs is one of them.
nteraction with itself provides its particle with mass, but that interaction
20 of 29
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y understood as it is very sensitive to subtle effects. At this point you

is question only partly answered.
//profmattstrassler.com/articles-and-posts/particle-physics-basics
matter/protons-and-neutrons/
me to write science fiction, as long as you are very clear about what
cience is not done by speculation. Speculations have to be turned into
with clear predictions that (at least in principle, if not in immediate
sted by careful experiments; only at that point, the discussion becomes
e 19, 2013 at 12:12 PM | Reply
r] Speculations have to be turned into precise equations with clear

ast in principle, if not in immediate practise) can be tested by careful
hat point, the discussion becomes science. [/quote]
greeing with the above quote, I would be fascinated to know how many
lowing you would consider to be science.
dd Higgs field to the list ?
Times Article on New China | Of Particular Significance
Higgs Particle? | Of Particular Significance
ound | Of Particular Significance
eak | Of Particular Significance
undays with John Duffield: Higgs Spin Zero | Bogpaper.com
ay 1 | Of Particular Significance
demic Year | Of Particular Significance
he Naturalness Article | Of Particular Significance
k on String Theory | Of Particular Significance
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2013 at 11:17 AM | Reply
ld (unlike most of the elementary fields of nature) has a non-zero

hout the entire universe. Can this field be a potential candidate for Dark
ness, Explained | Of Particular Significance
ield Theory, String Theory, and Predictions (Part 2) | Of Particular Significance
Nobel Prizes | Of Particular Significance
7, 2013 at 4:28 PM | Reply
ure out an appropriate analogy to describing the interaction of particles

hat results in mass for some particles, without drawing the analogy of
wded room. This is what I came up with:
f magical fat that coalesces onto people who exists in the room. A
s space, and he coalesces a light amount of magic weight on from the
nd lightly. A person Y also exists in this space, and in his existence, he
on him; he moves around less lightly. A person Z exists in this space,
oalesces no magical fat on him at all, and he is able to zip about at
o X and Y. The encumbering of the coalesced magical fat on the persons
particles. Thus, X has less mass than Y, and Z, akin to the speed of light,
al, cumbersome fat on him at all, is mass-less.
ble laymans analogy to explain the Higgs field on particles?
ding what the God particle isnt | The Hexacoto
and Turns of Hi(gg)story | Of Particular Significance
ek at CERN | Of Particular Significance
Theory Workshop in Princeton | Of Particular Significance
s sobre el bos de Higgs | Des de la Mediterrnia
ber 20, 2013 at 10:16 PM | Reply
iggs field be interpreted as the average of a large number of

on an ensemble of identically prepared states?
he eigenvalues of $\phi(x)$ (maybe integrated over a smooth function

ar point) be interpreted as the possible outcomes of some
22 of 29
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uate student in physics, have taken courses on QFT and the Standard
olls Higgs Book Wins a Big Prize | Of Particular Significance
Status of the LHC Search for Supersymmetry? | Of Particular Significance
2, 2013 at 8:15 AM | Reply
h this, the concept of mass and energy seem less distinct? Mass as such
a mysterious property that made everything solid. When you look at it
as just an interaction with the higgs field, perhaps the term mass is
action between fundamental fields (higgs and weak force for example)
of the gravitational force (mass) in the gravitational field. Also, is it
t warps spacetime, or is it the warping of spacetime due to higgs field
nates the gravitational force?

e that the same properties of matter particles (ie half integer spin)
ump together (higgs interaction, mass, gravity), but also keep them from
pace (pauli excl.), so forming 3d structures?
s a theory of QG perhaps? I mean, there was always a gut feeling that

ndamental theory, but a derivative, a large scale approximation, of
ntal phenomenon.
always seemed to be a mysterious property that made everything

look at it from the perspective as just an interaction with the higgs
term mass is incorrect in a way.
mass is what makes things solid is really inherited from what mistaken
n chemistry and first-year physics class. But mass is *not* what makes
ty of things has to do with the structure of ordinary matter and how it is
is just stored inside those things, but has nothing to do with the solidity
h the energy required to have an elementary particle, or to stick

es together. Elementary particles are really ripples in fields. The mass of
ply the energy required to make a stationary ripple in the electron field
ron), divided by c^2. The Higgs field gives mass to electrons by making
springier, and thus forcing you to use more energy to make an
tion at this stage with gravity. Even if there were no gravity, what I just
e previous paragraph would be true.
23 of 29
10/21/15 10:32 AM
se of space-time to the presence of energy. Energy stored in mass of

familiar source of gravity in nature the energy stored in the mass of
space-time, and the moon responds by moving in orbit.
tion with quantum gravity here.
ember 13, 2013 at 9:09 AM | Reply
s to do with the energy required to have an elementary particle, or to

cles together. Elementary particles are really ripples in fields. The mass
ly the energy required to make a stationary ripple in the electron field
n), divided by c^2. The Higgs field gives mass to electrons by making the
er, and thus forcing you to use more energy to make an electron.
etation, so I need to check it, please.
are ripples moving through fields, but they are not actually particles
a particle is proportional to the energy needed to stop it moving.
ld a wave can be stopped, and a particle formed, with relatively little
es the electron field such that more energy is needed to stop a wave and
t without the Higgs field an electron would have mass, but it would be
is in the presence of the Higgs field.
icles are ripples at all times, whether stationary or not. A stationary

that is not moving (it is rippling in place, like a wave on a violin string.)
a particle that is moving.
article is proportional to the energy that was needed to create the

and since moving ripples have more energy, this is the *minimum*
create a ripple, stationary or not.
with stopping the wave; the problem was creating it in the first place.
ticles this takes arbitrarily little energy without the Higgs field, but the
oes up once the Higgs fields average value isnt zero.
changes the electron field so that more energy is needed to create a
24 of 29
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ggs field it would require arbitrarily low energy to create a ripple in the
you cant create a stationary one at all which is the statement that the
massless without the Higgs field and would move always at the speed
of light). Just like the massless photons that make up light, a massless
er be stopped or slowed.
ber 13, 2013 at 9:34 AM | Reply
pt clarification. The confusion arose because I interpreted stationary

had been stopped, rather than as a standing wave, which would have
xample of the gap between what experts say and what hitch-hikers
nd animations. I have a Fields and Particles (with freshman-level math)

a lot of the animations that you might want. Following that theres a
eld Works section. Im planning to update it for a non-math audience,

good month of work, and I havent had the time.
ember 13, 2013 at 9:40 AM | Reply
6 again, sorry, Im not really pretending to be someone else :)
Holiday International Congratulations | Of Particular Significance
14 at 5:31 PM | Reply
urs recently on this blog and I am sure I will spend many many more.
My physics is on level of basic engineer physics course, but I would like
tions (I guess I am at the level, the blog is addessed).
ggs field has a very interesting property that you cannot move in
it analog (but a reverse situation) to light in special relativity, which
tant speed from you. It might be that its just as counter-intuitive as
, but my thinking is that it implies actually Higgs field to have a
universe, because if it wasnt constant, then by measuring its value we
ur motion by detecting a change in the field value.
ugh to know if such field must have potential energy or not, but it
have any arbitrary value?
ont have constant values: mass (or strictly speaking energy) influences
e electromagnetic field etc, but if Higgs field is flat then there is
OK, I know that we have no idea about Higgs field nature yet, but
knowing the nature of this field is more interesting that the boson
January 8, 2014 at 9:05 AM | Reply
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It might be that its just as counter-intuitive as with special relativity

cial thing about a Higgs-like field is that even though if it has a constant
maintains special relativity as it was before. If it wasnt constant say it
from one place to another then yes, that would define a direction and
ce with respect to which we could define our motion. But not being
o cost energy, so the field would settle back to being constant if it could.
e potential energy, which varies as a function of its non-zero value, and

lies at the minimum.
s once upon a time, and it sounds like you did, you might want to read
assler.com/articles-and-posts/particle-physics-basics/fields-and-their-
assler.com/articles-and-posts/particle-physics-basics/fields-and-theirfirst-semester undergraduate physics and have lots of diagrams and
hat illustrate many of these points.
can be non-constant in principle; the Higgs boson is in fact a ripple in

energy required to make the Higgs field be non-constant, non-rippling
gnificantly different from usual in a large area is so enormous that even
s the gravitational effects on the Higgs field are extremely tiny. Youd
opically close to a place where Einsteins gravity goes singular (the
ack hole) before youd see any effect. Similarly electromagnetic effects
ne place where the Higgs field could in principle have a little dimple in it
article that it makes heavy such as a top quark. But even there, this is
pic effect and unobservable.
ark and top anti-quark are close enough, there is a non-constant Higgs
m, over a distance of about 10^(-17) meters, something like the 1/r^2
en an electron and a proton, but falling off exponentially after 10^(-17)
MAY be observable in the next 30 years, as a small shift in the
r top quarks. I actually wrote my first particle physics paper about this:
/abstract/PRD/v43/i5/p1500_1
y 9, 2014 at 4:28 AM | Reply
your kind answer. Actually, reading the maths pages helps a lot with
it. Furthermore, it answered more questions I have had. I have noticed
le like to have their own theories because they dont understand math
the analogies you provide as actual physical link between different
d say that thanks to some math this is the best science web page I have
n additional question:
um fields fill in the whole time-space, which is still constantly
vacuum has its zero-state energy, that would imply a constant increase
26 of 29
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iverse total energy, unless its compensated by an equal growth of

y (like gravity potential). Is this how it is currently understood?
Bauman | January 9, 2014 at 8:28 AM | Reply
ave one or two more questions.

trassler, thank you for this amazing faq, really helpful for non-scientists
tly: By giggling the space at a certain point (by smashing particles) we

e appearing, which appearance show us the presence of the non-zero
understand correctly Higgs Field is everywhere, a characteristic of how
said about that field having (non zero) values. Can we make a map of
ay that for example I can make a 3D map of the electric field of my
nts inside the room walls where the electric cords are, will have a big
ing a device is plugged), where as the x-y-z above my head has 0v. Does
ame characteristics (bound to x-y-z and/or time) and if so, can we
field values in space around us (then we wonder if there is a place
ggs field is 0? -well if Higgs field is essential for matter to exist there
place?) and would that mean different Higgs field values in places
t effects of Higgs field onto the other particles? (even if variation of
s very far away to change even slightly -so around the earth/solar
ver that field feels like a constant but actually is not?)
ouse and put the price a little higher by saying my house has nice view,
ngest Higgs Field in the area for all the family to enjoy?
mmar mistakes -non native English speaker
ard-Model Higgs Particle Decays: What We Found | Of Particular Significance
mples of Possible Unexpected Higgs Decays | Of Particular Significance
es | Of Particular Significance
Proton-Proton Collider? | Of Particular Significance

Large Hadron Collider Finds Nothing Else? | Of Particular Significance
27 of 29
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Ways Physicists Name Things | 4 gravitons and a grad student
e not Species | 4 gravitons and a grad student
enillescas.com | July 1, 2014 at 2:56 AM | Reply
first visit to your blog!

volunteers and starting a new project in a
me niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information
done a marvellous job!
of the Day: Higgs boson God particle Cornerston of the Simple Theory of Everything |
ber 18, 2014 at 11:24 AM | Reply
ing articles here.
lot of time writing, i know how to save you a lot of work, there
creates readable, SEO
nutes, just type in google laranitas free content
Hatred of Science and Love of Opinion | itsbosh
November 21, 2014 at 11:37 AM | Reply
ver be negative?
9, 2014 at 5:16 PM | Reply
you say that the mass of protons doesnt come predominantly from the
any known percentage for how much of a proton/neutrons mass is from
2014 at 6:51 PM | Reply
has been a busy girl.
were submitted by a bot, spam bot to be more precise. So these guys are
as SEnuke that automatically submits massive numbers of comments
February 15, 2015 at 8:04 AM | Reply
light is close to 300 000 km/s not m/s ;)

February 15, 2015 at 8:35 AM | Reply
28 of 29
10/21/15 10:32 AM
light is close to 300 000 km/s not m/s ;)
g it all btw, things seem a little clearer now
Matter with Dark Matter, Matt? | 4 gravitons

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The Higgs FAQ 2.0 - of Particular Significance

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The Higgs FAQ 2.

ber 12, 2012]

field is the key to the story.

where in space and time,

The Higgs FAQ 2.0 | Of Particular Significance

rtant about the Higgs field?

e most of the elementary fields of nature) has a non-zero average value

w about the Higgs field?

The Higgs FAQ 2.0 | Of Particular Significance

ure theres a Higgs field?

any things we dont know. For instance:

sicists sure theres a Higgs particle?

The Higgs FAQ 2.0 | Of Particular Significance

knew for sure was that either

e Higgs particle has been found. Is that true?

absolutely completely 100% cross-your-heart sure that there is a Higgs field in

The Higgs FAQ 2.0 | Of Particular Significance

s particle often called the Higgs boson? (pronounced boh-zon)

s particle called the God particle?

The Higgs FAQ 2.0 | Of Particular Significance

The Higgs FAQ 2.0 | Of Particular Significance

lls on things proportional to their mass to a combination of their energy and

.e., E M c2 for slow objects)

The Higgs FAQ 2.0 | Of Particular Significance

ng in the universe exerts a gravitational effect on everything else. We say gravity is

(the latter presumed to exist)

tom, charm, strange, up, down

The Higgs FAQ 2.0 | Of Particular Significance

us puzzle called the hierarchy problem.

he Higgs has something to do with gravity is natural for a non-expert, but I am

The Higgs FAQ 2.0 | Of Particular Significance

ense to seek a fundamental explanation for the values of the *masses* of

eld always been non-zero?

ned by the equations, most of these numbers have been determined by

er the Standard Model predicts anything, since so much has to be determined by

The Higgs FAQ 2.0 | Of Particular Significance

obably more by now) of successful predictions out of 20 measured inputs is a huge

ggs and Gravity are Unrelated | Of Particular Significance

ober 16, 2012 at 6:59 AM | Reply

he explanation seems to be a little convoluted, but of course this is very

, On the Other Side of the Planet | Of Particular Significance

Little Soul-Searching | Of Particular Significance

The Higgs FAQ 2.0 | Of Particular Significance

December 3, 2012 at 6:13 PM | Reply

od chance I should not even comment on this site. However , I have

us time. Can anyone prove time is continuous ? There is a simple story

apologize if this is inappropriate here.

e equations of quantum field theory, we often do (as a crutch) first

December 5, 2012 at 8:10 AM | Reply

u. What implication does the recent LHC discovery have, if any, on

y? considerable, but unfortunately very complicated and detailed. Many

ust 8, 2014 at 3:50 AM | Reply

The Higgs FAQ 2.0 | Of Particular Significance

respect from me for writing these helpful arleitcs.

December 6, 2012 at 9:17 AM | Reply

, but. The concept of a quantum field is something we find useful when

atoms together, and whose particles are photons] must be treated as a

ess on the part of scientists is something that often seems surprising to

Bosons? No Evidence for That | Of Particular Significance

ancy of the Heavens Verified Anew | Of Particular Significance

nd The Higgs-Like Particle? | Of Particular Significance

ound | Of Particular Significance

ense to seek a fundamental explanation for the values of the masses of

he field could be zero or non-zero on average. At some points in

identity: the smallest wave (meaning the wave of smallest height, or