Glashow-Weinberg-Salam problem with mass terms

In summary, the end of spontaneous symmetry breaking leads to the mass terms W+ and W- which can be expressed as M_{W^+}=g \frac{v}{2} and M_{W^-}=g \frac{v}{2}. There is also a simpler option to write these mass terms as \mathcal{L}_{mass}= \frac{1}{2} g^2 \frac{v^2}{4} W_{\mu}^{-}{W^{\mu}}^{+} without the need for additional terms or hermitian conjugates. This is due to the fact that the W fields commute.
  • #1
Karozo
4
0
At the end of spontaneous symmetry breaking I get these mass terms:

[itex]W_{\mu}^{\pm}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\bigl(W_{\mu}^{1} \mp W_{\mu}^{2} \bigr )[/itex]

[itex]\mathcal{L}_{mass}=\frac{1}{2} g^2 \frac{v^2}{4} W_{\mu}^{+}{W^{\mu}}^{-} + \frac{1}{2} g^2 \frac{v^2}{4} W_{\mu}^{-}{W^{\mu}}^{+} [/itex]

So I have [itex] M_{W^+}=g \frac{v}{2} \quad M_{W^-}=g \frac{v}{2} [/itex]

Is it right? Or there are too many terms and it is enough:

[itex]\mathcal{L}_{mass}= \frac{1}{2} g^2 \frac{v^2}{4} W_{\mu}^{-}{W^{\mu}}^{+} [/itex]
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
The mass terms seem right.
You can always write it as the last + h.c. which is your 2nd term
 
  • #3
Well, the W fields commute so there really is no point in writing it as two terms or with hc., just add a 2.
 

What is the Glashow-Weinberg-Salam problem with mass terms?

The Glashow-Weinberg-Salam problem with mass terms is a theoretical puzzle in particle physics that arises in the Standard Model of particle physics. It refers to the fact that the Standard Model equations do not allow for the inclusion of mass terms for the W and Z bosons, which are fundamental particles responsible for the weak nuclear force.

Why is it a problem that the Standard Model does not include mass terms for the W and Z bosons?

The inclusion of mass terms for the W and Z bosons is necessary in order to explain the observed masses of these particles. Without these mass terms, the Standard Model equations cannot fully describe the behavior of the weak nuclear force, leading to a discrepancy between theory and experimental results.

What have scientists proposed as a solution to the Glashow-Weinberg-Salam problem with mass terms?

Several theories have been proposed to solve this problem, including the Higgs mechanism and spontaneous symmetry breaking. These theories suggest that the W and Z bosons acquire their mass through interactions with a scalar field known as the Higgs field.

Has the Glashow-Weinberg-Salam problem with mass terms been experimentally confirmed?

Yes, the existence of the Higgs field and its role in giving mass to the W and Z bosons was confirmed by the discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider in 2012. This discovery provided strong evidence for the validity of the proposed solutions to the Glashow-Weinberg-Salam problem.

Are there any remaining questions or challenges related to the Glashow-Weinberg-Salam problem with mass terms?

While the discovery of the Higgs boson has confirmed the existence of the Higgs field and its role in giving mass to the W and Z bosons, there are still open questions and challenges related to the precise mechanism of mass generation and the unification of the fundamental forces in the Standard Model. Further research and experimentation are needed to fully understand and address these challenges.

Similar threads

  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
1
Views
1K
Back
Top