Vevrelated

Vevrelated is an adjective used in physics to describe phenomena, observables, or model parameters that are determined by the vacuum expectation value (VEV) of a scalar field, typically the Higgs field, or by other scalar field vevs in extended theories. The term emphasizes the dependence of quantities on the scale set by a field’s nonzero ground-state value after spontaneous symmetry breaking.

In the Standard Model, many quantities are vevrelated because particle masses arise from electroweak symmetry breaking. For example, fermion masses m_f = y_f v/√2, and gauge boson masses M_W = gv/2, M_Z = √(g^2+g'^2) v/2, where v ≈ 246 GeV is the Higgs vacuum expectation value. In theories with additional scalar fields, vevrelated effects can include mixing between scalar states, shifts in couplings, or vev-induced mass terms. The classification helps separate intrinsic coupling constants from scale-set effects provided by field vevs. Vevrelated considerations are common in beyond-Standard Model contexts, such as two-Higgs-doublet models or models with singlet scalars that acquire vevs and modify phenomenology.

Limitations: Not all observable quantities are vevrelated; some depend primarily on dimensionless couplings or high-energy parameters. The term is mainly used descriptively in theoretical and phenomenological discussions to aid model-building and interpretation of experimental results.

See also: Vacuum expectation value, Higgs mechanism, spontaneous symmetry breaking, extended Higgs sectors, Yukawa coupling.