Classical Scalar Field Potential in the Standard Model

Abstract

The mechanism of particle mass generation in the Standard Model is discussed. It is shown that non-zero vacuum expectation value of a scalar field together with the proper symmetry of the Lagrangian allow a certain class of scalar field potentials providing generation of gauge boson and fermion masses and keeping the electroweak sector of the model unchanged. Applying the minimality principle and certain additional conditions one can reduce the number of free parameters in the model. Possible phenomenological consequences in the scalar sector for different choices of the potential are discussed.