The Higgs field plays a crucial role in the behavior of quantum particles within the framework of the Standard Model of particle physics, which combines quantum mechanics and special relativity. However, it should be noted that the description of quantum particles within the Standard Model involves quantum electrodynamics (QED) and not general relativity. General relativity is a theory of gravity that describes the behavior of particles and spacetime on a larger scale, while the Higgs mechanism primarily concerns the behavior of elementary particles and their interactions at the quantum level.
In the Standard Model, the Higgs field is a scalar field that permeates all of space. It is associated with the Higgs boson, which was discovered at the Large Hadron Collider in 2012. The Higgs field is unique because it has a non-zero vacuum expectation value, meaning that even in empty space, the field does not vanish but instead takes on a constant value throughout the universe.
When elementary particles interact with the Higgs field, they acquire mass through a process known as the Higgs mechanism. According to this mechanism, particles such as quarks and electrons interact with the Higgs field, which results in a drag-like effect, analogous to particles moving through a medium. This drag slows down the particles and gives them mass. Particles that do not interact with the Higgs field, such as photons, remain massless.
The Higgs mechanism provides a way to explain why certain particles have mass while others do not. It is an essential ingredient in the Standard Model, as it allows for the consistent description of particle masses and their interactions through the exchange of other particles like photons and W and Z bosons.
It is worth noting that the Higgs field and its associated mechanism are part of the electroweak theory within the Standard Model, which unifies the electromagnetic and weak nuclear forces. The gravitational force, described by general relativity, is not incorporated into this framework and is currently not fully compatible with quantum mechanics. Efforts to reconcile gravity with quantum mechanics and incorporate it into a more comprehensive theory, such as a theory of quantum gravity, are ongoing areas of research in theoretical physics.