basismasswithout

Basismasswithout is a neologism used in theoretical discussions to denote the intrinsic or bare mass of a system when all interaction and binding energies are ignored. In this sense, it represents the sum of the constituent rest masses without contributions from forces that bind the system together.

Origin and concept

The term does not have a standard place in established physics literature. It is sometimes invoked in discussions about mass decomposition to distinguish between the inherent mass of components and the additional mass effects that arise from interactions, binding energy, or potential energy within a bound state. The phrasing “basismasswithout” reflects an attempt to formalize a baseline mass that would exist if the system were noninteracting.

Mathematical formulation

For a composite system with constituents i having rest masses m_i, the basismasswithout M_bare is defined as M_bare = sum over i of m_i. The physical or observed mass M_observed of the bound system typically satisfies M_observed = M_bare + ΔM, where ΔM encodes the mass defect due to binding energy and other interaction effects. In this framing, basismasswithout isolates the purely additive constituent masses from the energy changes associated with binding.

Usage and context

The concept is used mainly as a pedagogical device or in toy models and some renormalization discussions where separating bare parameters from interaction effects is useful. It is similar in spirit to the idea of a bare mass in quantum field theory, though basismasswithout is not a standard term with a single agreed definition.

Limitations

Basismasswithout is not widely adopted in formal literature, and its precise meaning can vary by context. It should be distinguished from the conventional “bare mass” and from the physical mass that includes binding and interaction energies.

See also

Binding energy, mass defect, bare mass, intrinsic mass, renormalization.