The Higgs field interacts with particles in a particular way due to the mechanism known as electroweak symmetry breaking, which is a fundamental aspect of the Standard Model of particle physics. The Higgs field is associated with the Higgs boson, which was discovered at the Large Hadron Collider in 2012.
To understand why the Higgs field interacts differently with particles that attempt to accelerate through it compared to particles moving at a constant velocity, we need to consider the concept of mass. In the Standard Model, particles acquire mass through their interaction with the Higgs field.
According to the theory, the Higgs field permeates all of space. When particles move through this field, they effectively experience a resistance or "drag" that is proportional to their mass. This resistance arises because particles interact with the Higgs field through a process called the Higgs mechanism.
Particles that have no intrinsic mass, such as photons (particles of light), move through the Higgs field without experiencing any drag or interaction. They travel at the speed of light and do not couple to the Higgs field.
On the other hand, particles that have mass, such as electrons or quarks, interact with the Higgs field and experience resistance as they attempt to move through it. This resistance manifests as inertia or mass, which leads to the difficulty of accelerating these particles.
In essence, the Higgs field provides a mechanism by which particles acquire mass. Particles moving through the Higgs field at a constant velocity do interact with the field to some extent, but the interaction is more pronounced when particles try to change their velocity, causing them to experience resistance or inertia associated with their mass.
It's important to note that the concept of the Higgs field and its interactions with particles is a fundamental aspect of the Standard Model of particle physics. However, there may be more to discover about the nature of mass and the Higgs field through ongoing research and potential extensions to the theory.