The Higgs field is a fundamental field in particle physics that permeates all of space. Particles gain mass through their interaction with the Higgs field. To understand how this works, let's delve into a few key concepts.
According to the Standard Model of particle physics, particles acquire mass through a process called electroweak symmetry breaking. In the early universe, just after the Big Bang, particles were massless and all the fundamental forces (except gravity) were unified into a single force. As the universe cooled down, the Higgs field transitioned to a non-zero vacuum expectation value (vev), meaning the field acquired a non-zero value throughout space.
Particles that interact with the Higgs field experience resistance, similar to moving through a medium. This resistance manifests as mass. The strength of the interaction between a particle and the Higgs field determines its mass. Particles that interact more strongly with the Higgs field will have higher masses, while those that interact weakly or not at all will have lower masses or remain massless.
The Higgs field is omnipresent, so particles are constantly interacting with it. The speed of a particle does not directly affect its interaction with the Higgs field or the acquisition of mass. Whether a particle is at rest or moving, it will still interact with the Higgs field and acquire mass according to its coupling strength.
It's worth noting that the Higgs mechanism primarily explains the masses of elementary particles within the framework of the Standard Model. The mechanism for mass generation in more complex composite particles, such as protons and neutrons, involves the dynamics of the strong nuclear force and the confinement of quarks within hadrons, and it is more intricate.
In summary, particles gain mass by interacting with the Higgs field through electroweak symmetry breaking. The speed of the particle does not play a role in this process; rather, the strength of the interaction determines the mass acquired.