Questions about weak force +bosons

[dangerbird]

i can't seem to find any straightforward descriptions of it for why+when its needed. Plus I am really confused as to how they weighed the bosons if they only exist for less than a nanosecond. I am more interested in finding out how scientists figured out the bosons weight than anything

 

[malawi_glenn]

ok, you mean why there is need of gauge bosons?

The simplest answer is first that the bosons are VIRTUAL, they are a mathematical tool/term which shows up when you calculate the interaction by means of perturbation theory. They are virtual particles since they do not fulfil E^2 = p^2 + m^2. So as an example the W boson which 'is responsible' for beta decay, is not there, it exists in calculations. The description why they are needed can not be straightforward presented since it is graduate level physics.

Now all gauge bosons have physical counterparts, real observable particles. e.g in top-quark decay, it decays into a botton quark and a W boson. Those particles are real, they are 'on shell' i.e they fulfill E^2 = p^2 + m^2.

But the W-boson is unstable, and decays into several things, and it is those things which are caught in the detector. One does not find the mass of particles by putting them on a weight-scale, one reconstruct/calculates the mass by looking at the four-momentum vectors of the detected particles.

 

[sir-pinski]

The weak force is one of the four fundamental forces in nature, along with gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong force. It is responsible for mediating interactions between subatomic particles, specifically those involving the decay of particles and the fusion of particles in the core of stars.

The bosons associated with the weak force are known as W and Z bosons. They were first predicted by physicists in the 1960s and were later discovered in experiments at CERN in the 1980s. These bosons have a very short lifespan, on the order of a nanosecond, which makes them difficult to study.

To determine the weight of these bosons, scientists use a technique called indirect measurement. This involves studying the effects of the bosons on other particles and using mathematical models to calculate their mass. For example, the decay of a W boson can produce an electron and a neutrino, and by measuring the energies and momenta of these particles, scientists can determine the mass of the W boson.

Additionally, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN has also played a crucial role in determining the mass of these bosons. By colliding particles at high energies, the LHC can create conditions similar to those in the early universe, allowing scientists to study the behavior of the weak force and its associated bosons.

In summary, the weight of the W and Z bosons has been determined through a combination of indirect measurements and experiments at the LHC. While their short lifespan may make them challenging to study, advancements in technology and techniques have allowed scientists to gain a better understanding of these fundamental particles.