- #1
jnorman
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i have been given to understand that the standard model is not a "particle" theory (even though the only things listed there are particles), but rather a "field" theory.
i also (somewhat) understand that particles are not actually "things", but rather manifestations of the underlying field. (correct?)
my questions regards the underlying fields.
1. i assume that an electron is a manfestation of the EM field - what is occurring within the EM field that would generate the qualities that we call an electron?
2. a proton and neutron are both "particles" comprising combinations of quarks, so i assume that they are not direct manfestations of a field. i assume that the the quarks are manfestations of some field. what field are quarks a manfestation of?
3. photons and other bosons seem to be the EM (and other?) field(s) directly interacting with other fields and their manfestations, even though force carriers are all defined as "particles" in wikipedia. i know photons are always detected as particles, but between the time they are emitted and the time they are absorbed, they are not particles in the sense that they have no physical location, correct?
4. so, how many field types are there, and how do they interact with each other?
5. if the standard model is a field theory, why is the gravitational field omitted, and why are we still trying to add the "graviton" to the model? and why do we call everything particles instead of describing the fields?
thanks for trying to help a poor confused person.
i also (somewhat) understand that particles are not actually "things", but rather manifestations of the underlying field. (correct?)
my questions regards the underlying fields.
1. i assume that an electron is a manfestation of the EM field - what is occurring within the EM field that would generate the qualities that we call an electron?
2. a proton and neutron are both "particles" comprising combinations of quarks, so i assume that they are not direct manfestations of a field. i assume that the the quarks are manfestations of some field. what field are quarks a manfestation of?
3. photons and other bosons seem to be the EM (and other?) field(s) directly interacting with other fields and their manfestations, even though force carriers are all defined as "particles" in wikipedia. i know photons are always detected as particles, but between the time they are emitted and the time they are absorbed, they are not particles in the sense that they have no physical location, correct?
4. so, how many field types are there, and how do they interact with each other?
5. if the standard model is a field theory, why is the gravitational field omitted, and why are we still trying to add the "graviton" to the model? and why do we call everything particles instead of describing the fields?
thanks for trying to help a poor confused person.