This one paragraph:
For instance, let’s take a single Higgs boson. This Higgs boson can convert itself into a top quark and an antitop antiquark, that then immediately recombine themselves into the initial Higgs boson. In practice, the quark-antiquark pair is virtual, i.e. it has no real existence. Theses virtual particles are thus only an intuitive way to understand quantum field theory more easily. However, the effect of this phenomenon can be quantitatively estimated: virtual effects are found to impact observable quantities.
Illustrates why your articles are actually beautiful. They are beautiful because they open a window for me onto mysteries that exist but have no clear explanation--at the moment. the quark-antiquark pair is virtual, i.e. it has no real existence. And yet, virtual effects are found to impact observable quantities.
I read through the blog with eyes of wonder. It's a privilege to be introduced to this theoretical material that touches on the very basis of existence.
I marvel that you have to patience to write this for us every week, and I am grateful.
I am so sorry COVID will not leave your family in peace. How is your wife? Fully recovered yet? I hope your luck holds out. We would all like to know your secret (how do you stay negative?) 🙂. Be well, @lemouth.
Thanks a lot for passing by, reading the entire blog and this very nice comment. It is really pleasing to read, as an author.
This concept of virtual contributions to quantum correction effects is actually not an easy one to grasp. Moreover, the related computations consist often of nightmares for students (I remember my first calculation along these lines when I was a fresh PhD student ;) ). The reason is that results are often expressed as "infinity minus infinity", and we need to find the finite remainder of that difference. But we have decades-old methods to deal with that, so that at least we do not start from the middle of nowhere.
It is also fun for me. There may however be no write-up next week, as Monday collides with Easter Monday. It may thus be fully dedicated to offline family time. I have to see whether I will have some time during the week-end to prepare a blog for Tuesday. We will see....
The next Monday may also be challenging as I will fly to Boston area. So please expect some shifts in my posting schedule or the two upcoming weeks.
My wife is now negative again (after 10 days more or less) and has well recovered. My son was however still slightly positive yesterday (after 5 days). He is fully asymptomatic, just locked at home. This week being a school holiday period, it is a bit sad for him...
Whenever I read something like this I am relieved to have skipped calculus :))
I am very happy your wife has recovered nicely. Even though she is relatively young and healthy...still things go wrong sometimes and it's nice things went well for her. It is sad for your son. Particularly if he is feeling fine, he will be restless. Still...he is feeling well, and for that we can be grateful. Stay well, @lemouth. Whatever your secret, I'm happy COVID avoids you ;))
Have a great week!
Ahah :) In fact calculations look scary, but they are doable with time. The main problem is that reaching the exact cancellation of all infinities (a necessary thing) is often extremely hard. Any stupid mistake propagates all over the place. This is however something necessary for precision predictions, which we need.
Today, everyone is negative again, and I managed to escape it (for now). The trip to Boston in 12 days is still confirmed :)