The need for a mechanism to give particles mass from "summary" of The God Particle by Leon M. Lederman,Dick Teresi
Particles have been known to possess mass, but the mechanism by which they acquire this property has long been a mystery to physicists. To explain this phenomenon, scientists proposed the existence of a field that permeates all of space, known as the Higgs field. According to this theory, particles interact with the Higgs field and gain mass in the process. The need for a mechanism to give particles mass arises from the fact that mass is a fundamental property of matter. Without mass, particles would be unable to form the building blocks of the universe as we know it. The Higgs field provides a way for particles to acquire mass without violating the principles of symmetry and conservation of energy. The Higgs field is not directly detectable, but its existence can be inferred from the behavior of particles in high-energy collisions. By studying the interactions between particles and the Higgs field, scientists can gain insight into the fundamental forces that govern the universe. The discovery of the Higgs boson, a particle associated with the Higgs field, provided experimental evidence for the mechanism by which particles acquire mass. This groundbreaking discovery confirmed the existence of the Higgs field and validated the theoretical framework that underpins the Standard Model of particle physics.- The need for a mechanism to give particles mass is a fundamental aspect of our understanding of the universe. By postulating the existence of the Higgs field and the Higgs boson, physicists have been able to explain how particles acquire mass and why this property is essential for the structure and behavior of matter.
