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To: neverdem
The results suggest that the Higgs boson is not a relatively high-mass particle, and physicists must keep looking for evidence of the Higgs boson in the lower-mass debris that sprays from particle collisions inside the Tevatron.
If the Higgs gives all matter its mass, then wouldn't all debris with mass contain the Higgs?
And does a Higgs particle have any mass by itself?
If a Higgs particle even has mass on its own, could it possibly have more mass than another particle which must derrive its own mass from the Higgs?

Using mass to detect the Higgs seems paradoxical to me.
 
3 posted on 03/13/2009 10:30:09 PM PDT by counterpunch (Kenya has two presidents. America has Zero.)
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To: counterpunch

It’s above my pay grade.


5 posted on 03/13/2009 10:54:29 PM PDT by neverdem (Xin loi minh oi)
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To: counterpunch; neverdem

I sort of have to agree with your argument.

The Higgs “confers” mass and wouldn’t necessarily have mass.
A massless photon would make more sense, which interacts with high energy states.

It seems to me that many have considered a relationship to exist between gravity and electromagnetism over the years, which might be eventually proven at the boson-particle level.

Gravity is definitely a property of mass, and electromagnetism could be represented as a property of energy. It has some properties that resemble gravity. ( With the exception of a repulsive state in gravity, which can’t be demonstrated or proven at present )

It is possible that the Higgs can only be observed in close proximity to a large gravity source or a large energy source, like the LHC, a star or singularity.

Such extreme conditions may be necessary to provide the proper environment needed for the transformation of energy to mass.

At any rate, assuming mass is necessary for the Higgs is probably misdirected. More theoretical research is going to have to be done to determine what the properties are for the Higgs.


7 posted on 03/14/2009 12:16:42 AM PDT by Drammach (Freedom - It's not just a job, It's an Adventure)
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To: counterpunch

IIRC, electromagnetic repulsion and attraction are mediated by photons - but a photon itself has no charge.


8 posted on 03/14/2009 2:17:27 AM PDT by agere_contra (So ... where's the birth certificate?)
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