Understanding W-Boson Decay: Electron & Anti-Neutrino Formation

In summary, the W-boson is able to decay into an electron and anti-neutrino because it is allowed to interact with those particles due to symmetries. This decay also conserves all the relevant quantities. The title of the original thread is misleading and the confusion is about beta decay, in which a proton transforms into a neutron. However, a proton cannot decay into a neutron by itself and it needs to be able to extract energy from the environment in order for this transformation to occur. Therefore, the decay actually takes the form of proton + electron = neutron + anti-neutrino or a similar reaction with another particle involved.
  • #1
smk
15
0
How W- boson decay into electron and anti neutrino?
 
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  • #2
Well it depends on what you find as a satisfying answer. I'd say that it decays into such, because "it can" . It's allowed to (due to the symmetries) interact/couple with those particles and so it does.

+ the ( W-> e nu ) is conserving all the quantities we think that are conserved.

P.S. - the title of the thread is misleading, you should try to write a title that represents clearly your question.
 
  • #3
Thank...basically I m confused in beta decay.in which proton is transformed into neutron.as we know that proton is lighter then neutron.
 
  • #4
And that actually means that a proton by itself cannot decay to a neutron (what I'm saying is that the proton decay is not an 1->3 particle decay).
In fact it needs to be able to drain energy from the environment so that is to say the decay is actually of the form:
[itex] p e^- \rightarrow n \nu [/itex]
or having something else:
[itex] X p \rightarrow X n e^+ \nu [/itex]
So a 1+(1)->3+(1) which can energetically allow it.
 
  • #5
Thanks
 

1. What is a W-boson and why is its decay important?

A W-boson is a subatomic particle that mediates the weak nuclear force, one of the four fundamental forces in nature. Its decay is important because it allows for the formation of other particles and plays a key role in the Standard Model of particle physics.

2. How does a W-boson decay into an electron and anti-neutrino?

During the decay process, a W-boson transforms into a virtual W-boson, which then decays into an electron and an anti-neutrino. This process is mediated by the weak nuclear force and follows the conservation of energy and momentum.

3. What is the role of the anti-neutrino in this decay process?

The anti-neutrino is a neutral particle that is created in the decay of the W-boson. It carries away some of the energy and momentum from the decay process, allowing for the conservation of these quantities.

4. How is the formation of an electron and anti-neutrino confirmed in W-boson decay experiments?

In experiments, the decay of a W-boson is confirmed by detecting the electron and anti-neutrino produced in the process. This is done using particle detectors that can identify and measure the properties of these particles.

5. Are there any practical applications of understanding W-boson decay?

While the study of W-boson decay has primarily advanced our understanding of fundamental physics, it does have some practical applications. For example, the decay process is used in medical imaging techniques such as PET scans, which allow for the visualization of metabolic processes in the body.

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