The Higgs field is a fundamental field in particle physics that permeates throughout space. It was first proposed by physicists Peter Higgs, François Englert, and others in the 1960s as part of the mechanism to explain why certain particles have mass.
According to the theory, particles acquire mass through their interactions with the Higgs field. The Higgs field is characterized by a property called "non-zero vacuum expectation value." This means that even in empty space, the Higgs field has a nonzero value. It is similar to a field of molasses that permeates the entire universe.
Particles that do not interact with the Higgs field, such as photons (particles of light), can travel freely at the speed of light and have no mass. However, particles that interact with the Higgs field experience a drag-like effect as they move through it. This interaction effectively slows them down and gives them mass.
The mechanism by which particles acquire mass involves the Higgs field's associated particle, called the Higgs boson. When particles interact with the Higgs field, they exchange energy with it through the exchange of Higgs bosons. This energy transfer manifests as mass for the particles.
To give an analogy, imagine a room filled with people. Some individuals can move through the room effortlessly, representing particles like photons that have no mass. Others, however, encounter a crowd that slows them down, representing particles that interact with the Higgs field and acquire mass.
In 2012, the existence of the Higgs boson was confirmed through experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a particle accelerator at CERN. Its discovery provided strong evidence for the existence of the Higgs field and its role in the mass generation of particles.
The nature of the Higgs field and the mechanism of mass generation through its interaction are complex topics within particle physics. They are described by the mathematical framework of the Standard Model, which is the current best-known theory that explains the fundamental particles and their interactions.