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Eating Goldstone bosons in a phase transition: A critical review of Lyre's analysis of the Higgs mechanism

Wüthrich, Adrian (2010) Eating Goldstone bosons in a phase transition: A critical review of Lyre's analysis of the Higgs mechanism. [Preprint]

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    Abstract

    In this note, I briefly review Lyre's (2008) analysis and interpretation of the Higgs mechanism. Contrary to Lyre, I maintain that, on the proper understanding of the term, the Higgs mechanism refers to a physical process in the course of which gauge bosons acquire a mass. Since also Lyre's worries about imaginary masses can be dismissed, a realistic interpretation of the Higgs mechanism seems viable.

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    Item Type: Preprint
    Keywords: Higgs mechanism, spontaneous symmetry breaking, gauge invariance, mass of gauge boson
    Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
    Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles
    Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory
    Conferences and Volumes: [2010] Philosophy of Physics in Germany - Current State and Perspectives (Hannover, 11-12 June, 2010)
    Depositing User: Adrian Wüthrich
    Date Deposited: 01 Aug 2010
    Last Modified: 27 Oct 2012 13:44
    Item ID: 5496
    URI: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/5496

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