Electron and its mass

Abstract

Electron is the most enigmatic of all elementary particles due to its very small mass that defies understanding for more than a century. In this lecture I will address the theories of the electron mass from historical perspective, leading to the understanding that there must at least two phenomena, the Higgs coupling (material mass) and the electromagnetic field (field mass) that contribute. I will describe the physics phenomena in the early Universe only seconds and minutes after the big-bang that constrain electron mass value in this early stage and at high temperature. I will pose the question how we can use laser-electron interaction to further the understanding of electron mass.