How to Determine the Range of Strong and Weak Interaction

In summary: In the case of the weak interaction, the range is typically measured in terms of the nuclear scattering cross sections - which are a function of the range and the energy of the interaction.
  • #1
Primroses
5
0
How can we determine the ranges of strong interactions and weak interactions?
Can calculations of relevant scattering cross sections do this?
Thanks.
 
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  • #2
The ballpark-range can be worked out by putting the rest-mass energy of the mediating boson into the HUP relations.

It can be checked impirically by working out the crossection as a function of range.
 
  • #3
The range of weak interactions is of the order of 1/M_W~.02 fm.
The range of strong interactions between baryons is of the order of 1/m_pi~1 fm.
The range of strong interactions between quarks is due to gluon-gluon interactions,
leading to a confining potential with a range of about 1 fm.
 
  • #4
I think the OP was asking how to determine these things experimentally, not how to predict them theoretically.

The answers to these questions are completely different depending on whether you're talking about the strong interaction between two nucleons and the strong interaction between two quarks. The latter interaction is usually modeled with an interaction that is of infinite range, and that gets *stronger* with distance.

A very simple way to put an upper limit on the range of the strong force between nucleons is from the liquid drop model. The liquid drop model contains a surface tension term, and the fact that the liquid drop model does a good job of fitting nuclear binding energies tells us that this surface tension term is physically accurate. This implies that the range of the strong force is small compared to the diameter of nuclei.

Re the question of how to put a lower limit on the range of the strong force, I'm not sure what it would even mean to hypothesize that the range of the strong force between two nucleons was less than about 1 fm, since nucleons themselves are fuzzy and about 1 fm in size.
 
  • #5
Someone interested in the experimental foundation of the strong force should probably start with Hideki Yukawa (Nobel Prize 1935).
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1949/yukawa-facts.html
Somewhat accessible discussion:
http://www.applet-magic.com/yukawa.htm

Weak interaction is eluding me - it looks like it was more the accumulated general success of the model rather than any direct measurement.

I think the key here would be to define what one would mean by the "range" of an interaction - i.e. what are you actually going to measure?
 

1. What is the range of strong interaction?

The range of strong interaction, also known as the strong nuclear force, is the distance over which this fundamental force acts between subatomic particles. It is approximately 10^-15 meters, which is the size of a proton.

2. How is the range of strong interaction determined?

The range of strong interaction is determined by studying the behavior of subatomic particles in various experiments and observations. By measuring the distance at which the force between particles becomes negligible, scientists can determine the range of strong interaction.

3. What are some examples of strong interaction?

Strong interaction is responsible for holding together the nucleus of an atom, as well as the interactions between quarks, which make up protons and neutrons. It is also responsible for the decay of unstable particles, such as in nuclear reactions.

4. How does the range of strong interaction compare to the range of weak interaction?

The range of strong interaction is much smaller than the range of weak interaction, which is approximately 10^-18 meters. This means that the strong nuclear force only acts over a very short distance, while the weak nuclear force can act over a larger distance.

5. What are the implications of the range of strong interaction?

The short range of strong interaction is what allows for the stability of atoms and the existence of matter as we know it. If the range were longer, the attraction between particles would be too strong and the universe would look very different. The range of strong interaction also plays a crucial role in nuclear energy and the understanding of the structure of matter.

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