New research suggests that the masses of fundamental particles like the W and Z bosons might come from the unique geometry of hidden dimensions, rather than the Higgs field. This idea comes from a study led by theoretical physicist Richard Pinčák from the Slovak Academy of Sciences. He suggests that geometry itself plays a key role in how matter becomes mass.
Traditionally, the Higgs field has been credited with giving mass to particles. Proposed in the 1960s, it solved a major puzzle in physics, allowing scientists to form the Standard Model we use today. Imagine the universe filled with a sticky substance. The way particles interact with this substance determines their mass. Heavier particles, like W and Z bosons, move through this goo like wading through mud, while lighter particles, such as electrons, barely interact and feel lighter.
The Higgs boson, discovered in 2012 at the Large Hadron Collider, confirmed the presence of the Higgs field. However, questions remain. The Higgs field doesn’t explain dark matter or dark energy, and we still don’t fully understand its properties.
Pinčák and his team believe hidden geometric structures might hold the missing answers. They investigated a seven-dimensional space called a G2 manifold. In simple terms, a manifold is a mathematical way to describe shapes that can twist and turn in ways we don’t typically perceive. This specific type of manifold could reveal deeper insights into particle mass.
They created a new equation to study how this manifold could change over time. Like how DNA twists, these geometric structures can have a unique twist, or torsion. As they evolve, they can reach stable states called solitons. The findings suggest that these solitons might provide an alternative explanation for how particles gain mass, similar to the Higgs mechanism.
The researchers also propose a hypothetical particle called the Torstone. If found, it could explain anomalies in particle colliders and even irregularities in gravitational waves. Although its existence isn’t confirmed yet, the research sets the stage for new possibilities.
Interestingly, this concept isn’t just theoretical; it draws on historical precedents. It took nearly 50 years to validate the Higgs boson’s existence. With the same kind of revolutionary thinking, Pinčák hopes to pave the way for new understandings in physics, suggesting that the essence of mass may lie within the fabric of seven-dimensional space.
For more on the potential implications of these findings, you can read the full study in Nuclear Physics B.
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