Does the electroweak force change quark flavor

Broken_symmetryIn summary, the combined electroweak force has both electromagnetic and weak force properties, but under unbroken electroweak symmetry, they are different. Photons and electric charge do not exist, but there are other charges such as weak hypercharge and weak isospin. For more information, refer to the link provided.
  • #1
a dull boy
40
1
Dear Physics Forum,

I was thinking about the properties of the combined electroweak force. Does it maintain the
electromagnetic and weak force properties (in an additive fashion), or does it have new properties. If new properties, do we know what they are (well, you may, but I don't!).

Thanks, Mark
 
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  • #2
I'm not entirely sure what your second sentence means; however, quarks can change flavour in electroweak processes.
 
  • #3
a dull boy said:
I was thinking about the properties of the combined electroweak force.

Do you mean the interactions under unbroken electroweak symmetry? They are different: for example photons do not effectively exist (they are not meaningful degrees of freedom), electric charge does not exist. There are other charges though: the weak hypercharge and weak isospin.

Check here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroweak_interaction
 

1. What is the electroweak force?

The electroweak force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature, along with gravity, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force. It is responsible for interactions between particles that have electric charge, such as electrons and protons.

2. Can the electroweak force change quark flavor?

Yes, the electroweak force can change quark flavor. This process is known as flavor-changing neutral current (FCNC) interactions and occurs when a quark changes flavor by interacting with an electroweak boson, such as a W or Z boson.

3. How does the electroweak force change quark flavor?

The electroweak force can change quark flavor through two main processes: the exchange of a W boson or the exchange of a Z boson. In both cases, the quark involved in the interaction changes flavor, either by emitting or absorbing the boson.

4. What are the implications of the electroweak force changing quark flavor?

The ability of the electroweak force to change quark flavor has important implications in particle physics. These interactions can help explain the observed mixtures of quark flavors in the universe and can also provide insights into the nature of the electroweak force itself.

5. How is the electroweak force related to the Standard Model of particle physics?

The electroweak force is a fundamental component of the Standard Model, which is the most widely accepted theory for explaining the behavior of particles and their interactions. The Standard Model describes how the electroweak force and other fundamental forces operate on a microscopic level.

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