5
$\begingroup$

Higgs boson has a mass, and a vacuum expectation value, both are in electronvolts.

An uncommon feature of the Higgs field is that to its zero energy density belongs a non-zero field value.

Is it possible, probably with QFT, to calculate its energy density (per unit volume)? In layman terms, how would it work?

$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ As you said, it has zero energy density, so why are you asking how to calculate the energy density? And, as you said, the field has a nonzero VEV, so why does your title refer to the “zero Higgs field”? $\endgroup$
    – G. Smith
    Commented Oct 2, 2019 at 17:25
  • $\begingroup$ @G.Smith If I understood that maxican hat thing well, I understand the origin in that potential diagram. Maybe I formulated something badly? Effectively, I am asking for, how high is the origin in the mexican hat potential. In SI units. Feel free to edit the post, if it makes it better. $\endgroup$
    – peterh
    Commented Oct 2, 2019 at 17:42
  • $\begingroup$ Aha. I understand your question now. $\endgroup$
    – G. Smith
    Commented Oct 2, 2019 at 17:45

1 Answer 1

6
$\begingroup$

The "Mexican hat" Higgs potential is

$$V(H)=\lambda(|H|^2-v^2)^2$$

where $v$ is the Higgs vacuum expectation value, 246 GeV, and the dimensionless Higgs coupling $\lambda$ is about 0.0323.

To get this value for $\lambda$, look at the quadratic "mass term" when expanding the Higgs field around its VEV, $H=v+h$. It is $4\lambda v^2 h^2$, so the mass of the Higgs is $m_H^2=8\lambda v^2$ and thus $\lambda=m_H^2/8v^2$. Using 125 GeV as the measured Higgs mass, one gets $\lambda\approx 125^2/(8\times 246^2)$.

When the Higgs field $H$ is zero, the potential is $\lambda v^4$, which is about $1.18\times 10^8\text{ GeV}^4$. The conversion for energy density between natural units and SI units is

$$1\text{ GeV}^4\approx 2.08\times10^{37}\text{ J/m}^3$$

so the zero-Higgs-field energy density is about $2.45\times 10^{45}\text{ J/m}^3$. The corresponds to a mass density of $2.72\times 10^{28}\text{ kg/m}^3$. This is about 10 orders of magnitude higher than density at the center of a neutron star, but about 68 orders of magnitude lower than the Planck density.

Note that this energy density is not the Higgs energy density now, when $H=v$. That energy density is, as you said, zero.

$\endgroup$
9
  • $\begingroup$ @Cham Thanks for catching that typo! $\endgroup$
    – G. Smith
    Commented Oct 2, 2019 at 20:07
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ It feels a bit weird that the Higgs mass $m_H \approx 125~\mathrm{GeV}$ is almost exactly half the Higgs vacuum expectation value. $\endgroup$
    – Cham
    Commented Oct 2, 2019 at 20:16
  • $\begingroup$ Agreed. I don’t think there is an accepted explanation for that. $\endgroup$
    – G. Smith
    Commented Oct 2, 2019 at 20:22
  • $\begingroup$ @Cham: It boils down to the fact that $\lambda \approx 1/32$, but that may not be a sufficient explanation. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 2, 2019 at 20:38
  • $\begingroup$ @G.Smith Thanks! Wiki says, neutron star central density is only about $10^{17} \frac{\rm{kg}}{\rm m^3}$. Thus, the difference is only 9 orders of magnitude. $\endgroup$
    – peterh
    Commented Oct 3, 2019 at 12:29

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.