Higgs field "=" Aether theories??

[figuer]

Conceptually speaking there seems to be a relationship between the Higgs field theory and the Aether theories. In very broad terms, both are concerned with the physical qualities of empty space... both are conceived as mediums which permeate physical reality, as a sort of basis for the rest. While there are many differences, it could be interpreted perhaps, if the hypothetical Higgs turns to be real, that the basic premise of the Aether theory was sound, even if the theoretical development wasn't. Thoughts?

[robto]

Since light was known to be some sort of vibration, the ether was invented so that there was something to vibrate. (Naturally enough.) Now we know that hypothesis isn't necessary - we have a different way of describing the "vibrations" (using electric and magnetic fields, or better, using quantum fields).

The Higgs has nothing to do with finding a medium for light. So I would answer, "NO". The basic premise was NOT sound.

[figuer]

The Higgs has nothing to do with finding a medium for light. So I would answer, "NO". The basic premise was NOT sound.But what about the subject of empty space?...both theories seem to indicate that it is an impossibility...both propose a medium for other particles, independently of the particular subject of light.

[robto]

The Higgs has nothing to do with finding a medium for light. So I would answer, "NO". The basic premise was NOT sound.But what about the subject of empty space?...both theories seem to indicate that it is an impossibility...both propose a medium for other particles, independently of the particular subject of light.

Empty space has certain interesting characteristics in quantum field theory (QFT) - with or without a Higgs field - and some additional interesting characteristics when the Higgs field is present. Empty space also has some interesting characteristics in an ether theory. However, I don't see any connection between the two sets of characteristics. I don't think it's helpful to say "QFT is like an ether theory because in both, empty space has interesting characterstics."

[figuer]

I don't think it's helpful to say "QFT is like an ether theory because in both, empty space has interesting characterstics." In both (Higgs and Aether), 'empty' space does not exist as such...it is occupied by some 'medium' which is why both theories can be said to share similarities. I don't see how it can not be 'helpful' to recognize that they belong to a certain particular discourse in scientific theories.

[Schneibster]

Because understanding one doesn't help you understand the other.

The Higgs field isn't proposed as the only field permeating empty space; others include but are not limited to the electron field, the gravity field, the weak field, and the photon field.

[WCH]

Not to mention the field of vision, football field and field of dreams.

[lpetrich]

In fact, every elementary-particle field fills all of space-time. But that does not mean that their field values are nonzero everywhere, of course.

The distinctive thing about the Higgs field is that it has a nonzero value as its ground state, a value roughly equivalent to an energy of 300 GeV.

This causes a further problem, because one expects that this nonzero value will produce a cosmological constant value of about (300 GeV)4, instead of the observed value of about (10-12 GeV)4. And from quantum gravity, one might expect a Planck-scale value of (1019 GeV)4.

So there's a serious problem with unifying gravity with nongravitational physics -- what makes the cosmological constant so small?

[figuer]

Because understanding one doesn't help you understand the other.That's not the point...and not entirely true.

[ahdenai]

The aether was a field that was fixed to a specific coordinate system in space. The Higgs field, like all particle fields in relativistic qm, is Lorentz invariant, meaning that it has no preferred global reference frame.