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Do Quantum Fields Have Mass?

Alexander Ross • • 6 min read
Do Quantum Fields Have Mass?
More precisely, the particle is a quantized manifestation of a field (the Higgs field) that generates mass through its interaction with other particles. But quantum fields contain excited states that we observe as particles. These fields can be divided into matter fields (whose particles are electrons, quarks, etc.)

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In respect to this, how many quantum fields are there?

Are they generally/universally believed to be real and the most fundamental aspect of our universe or just a mathematical construct? I've read that there are 24 fundamental quantum fields: 12 fields for fermions and 12 for bosons.

Subsequently, question is, does the quantum field exist? Quantum fields are matter. In a quantum field theory, what we perceive as particles are excitations of the quantum field itself. The simplest “practical” quantum field theory is quantum electromagnetism. In it, two fields exist: the electromagnetic field and the “electron field”.

Keeping this in consideration, do electromagnetic fields have mass?

Other waves, such as sound waves, can not travel through a vacuum. An electromagnetic wave is perfectly happy to do that. An electromagnetic wave, although it carries no mass, does carry energy. It also has momentum, and can exert pressure (known as radiation pressure).

How do particles get mass?

The Higgs field gives mass to fundamental particles—the electrons, quarks and other building blocks that cannot be broken into smaller parts. The energy of this interaction between quarks and gluons is what gives protons and neutrons their mass.

Related Question Answers

Is the universe made of fields?

The universe is full of fields, and what we think of as particles are just excitations of those fields, like waves in an ocean. An electron, for example, is just an excitation of an electron field.

Is gravity a quantum field?

Quantum gravity (QG) is a field of theoretical physics that seeks to describe gravity according to the principles of quantum mechanics, and where quantum effects cannot be ignored, such as near compact astrophysical objects where the effects of gravity are strong.
Alexander Ross
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Alexander Ross

Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.