Thread: The Higgs Boson vs string theory

I am wondering how these two theories relate to each other.

According to Petter Higgs, in point particle physics, the higgs boson would give all particles their mass(excluding massless particles). The Higgs field theory says that the Higgs field exists everywhere in the universe. As particles travel through it, they are slowed down. The slower a particle is made too travel, the larger the mass it has. For example, the massive top quark is much slower than the neutrino, and the massless photo travels at the speed of light.

The view of string theory is that all particles are NOT points, but rather very small vibrating strings that are as small as the Plank length. The wave function of the vibrations of these strings determines the particle's properties i.e. mass, charge, spin... String theory says that at every plank length point of the universe there is a shape of 6 additional space dimensions called a Calabi-Yah space. It is a type of manifold with 3 holes in it. As strings pass through these holes, there wave functions are established, thus giving the particle all of it's properties.

Both of these theories are very intriguing to me. I am wondering if experimental evidence in support for one of the theories would disprove the other, or can they both be true? I welcome all comments!!

The title of your post is incorrect. The Higgs Boson is a hypothetical scalar [spin-1] boson that has yet to be observed in the laboratory. It has hypothesized to resolve inconsistencies in electromagnetic theory. String Theory is an attempt at a Theory of Everything (TOE) or Grand Unified Theory (GUT) that is hoped to unify the Theory of Gravitation/Cosmology/General Relativity with Quantum Mechanics/Standard Model[/Theory of Everything Else]. String Theory today is where Quantum Mechanics was before Planck, Heisenberg, and Schrödinger.

If String Theory succeeds as the Theory of Everything, then it will either explain the Higgs Boson from first principles or it will explain why the Higgs Boson was never observed or why it does not exist.

As you know physics works by the agreement(or lack) of theory with experiment. Having stated that where can String theory go in terms of the required validation experiment brings? I'll go a step further, all our current research in our search for the holy grail of physics is running into a problem. The problem is one of economies. The energies required to validate quarks, higgs, and all the other particles which the theories postulate
we will not be able to harness. We have come a long, long way in 300 years, however;we are disproportionally unable to match our theories with the required experiment. Personally, where the math/physics stop working(due to a lack of validation) intuition and the path of enlightment will have to suffice.

Thank you both for your excellent input. Both comments were very appreciated and helped me put things into perspective. I have faith, that in time, experimental evidence will show up. I know it seems that we are at a dead end with power limitation, but the world is full of brilliant minds and many more to come.

i agree. there are many bright minds out there. as far as "power" goes, we have an unlimited supply of energy (electrical) at our disposal. tap the Solar Wind anywhere and you are home free.

i disagree. unlimited power is available very simply using classical Faraday processes. Very Simple !

good gravy ! a boson is a boson ! i think all bosons are spin one particles . hadrons .

what do you think ?

leptons are spin one half particles. neutrons are hadrons and i think neutrons are bosons. it's been a while since i worked with boson thoughts . spin, is critical to charactering all hadrons, of which bosons are included. prove me wrong ! am i right ! tell me . some one , i discarded my Tipler Modern Physics Text of 1971. Lots of easy to digest, simple theory and information . some one tell me if i am right , please !

visa vie: please tell me if i am wrong !

i can only wait so long .

so, again, please dig out your 19j71 modern physics book and confirm my position.

better yet, go to your fundamentals of particle physics book by Ford. 1969 and review you background on World Lines for Elementary Particles.

Ford has a very clear, simple presentation of Elementary Particle World Lines . Richard Feynman worked some on elementary particle scattering and life-time experiment .

The Swinger Symposium at UCLA circa 1969 in the UCLA physics lab building . 50 to 80 people showed up . I sat in the back of the lecture auditorium . I waited for Richard Feynman to appear . Richard Feynman did not appear. Some Japanese lecturers spoke. that is all .

Strings mathematical constructs . simplify theoretical thinking . strings require at least 11 dimensional consideration . this is o.k. each dimension requires a linearly independent set of vector space generators. Prime numbers can give some linearly independent vector space generators.

anyway, i am supposed to close the curtains in our downstairs home around now, 4:45 p.m.

i will return after the curtains and blinds are closed, for privacy, ostensibly .

hold on....

Originally Posted by stevenmbauer

good gravy ! a boson is a boson ! i think all bosons are spin one particles . hadrons .

what do you think ?

Wrong. There are no known Spin-1 bosons. All known bosons are Spin-0. The hypothetical Higgs Boson is Spin-1, but there no proof that it exists. The hypothetical graviton is a Spin-2 boson--if it is shown to exist.