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Full Idea
The Higgs field has the property of having a nonzero value in a state without particles, the vacuum state. Other fields are assumed to have a value zero in a vacuum state.
Gist of Idea
The Higgs field, unlike others, has a nozero value in a state without particles
Source
Brian R. Martin (Particle Physics [2011], 09)
Book Ref
Martin, Brian R.: 'Particle Physics' [One World 2011], p.148
A Reaction
This seems to make a big difference to our concept of a field, since it has a measurable reality even when there are no particles. So it isn't just a geometrical frame for locating particles.
Related Idea
Idea 21201 A 'field' is just a region to which points can be assigned in space and time [Martin,BR]
21201 | A 'field' is just a region to which points can be assigned in space and time [Martin,BR] |
21202 | The strong force has a considerably greater range than the weak force [Martin,BR] |
21205 | Many physicists believe particles have further structure, if only we could see it [Martin,BR] |
21203 | Uncertainty allows very brief violations of energy conservation - even shorter with higher energies [Martin,BR] |
21204 | The standard model combines theories of strong interaction, and electromagnetic and weak interaction [Martin,BR] |
21200 | An 'element' is what cannot be decomposed by chemistry [Martin,BR] |
21208 | Eletrons don't literally 'spin', because they are point-like [Martin,BR] |
21207 | The Exclusion Principle says no two fermions occupy the same state, with the same numbers [Martin,BR] |
21206 | The properties of a particle are determined by its quantum numbers and its mass [Martin,BR] |
21210 | Virtual particles surround any charged particle [Martin,BR] |
21209 | Electron emit and reabsorb photons, which create and reabsorb virtual electrons and positrons [Martin,BR] |
21211 | If an expected reaction does not occur, that implies a conservation law [Martin,BR] |
21212 | The Higgs field, unlike others, has a nozero value in a state without particles [Martin,BR] |
21213 | String theory only has one free parameter (tension) - unlike the standard model with 19 [Martin,BR] |