Why do neutrons and neutrinos have arrows in Feynman diagrams?

In summary, the arrows in a Feynman diagram do not represent electric current. They represent the flow of a conserved charge, which could be electric charge, baryon number, or lepton number. The direction of the arrow does not necessarily indicate the direction of the electric current, as it depends on the specific process being depicted in the diagram.
  • #1
thegirl
41
1
The arrows in a Feynman diagram represent electric current. right? If this is the case then why do neutrons and neutrinos have arrows. How do they have an electric current?
 
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  • #2
sorry for the spelling mistakes
 
  • #3
thegirl said:
The arrows in a Feynman diagram represent electric current. right?
No they do not. They follow matter fermions (in arrow direction) or their antiparticles (against arrow direction).
The electric charge is not relevant, and an electric current is something completely different.
 
  • #4
what do you mean when you say follow matter fermions, how the the arrows follow matter fermions? do you mean the direction? So the arrows do represent direction except for an antiparticle where the arrow is in the opposite to the direction?

Sorry, I'm a little lost as I was told they represented the direction the the electric current is in which is why the arrows for a particle and antiparticle where in different directions.
 
  • #5
I just read up about it, and understand that they represent particle flow. So no one else has heard of the arrows representing the direction of the electric current?
 
  • #6
thegirl said:
So no one else has heard of the arrows representing the direction of the electric current?
It is completely wrong for Feynman diagrams.

You can use arrows in circuit diagrams (with resistors and so on), but that has nothing to do with Feynman diagrams.
 
  • #7
Arrows represent the flow of a conserved charge: it could be electric charge, baryon number, or lepton number, to give 3 examples.
 
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  • #8
Avodyne said:
Arrows represent the flow of a conserved charge: it could be electric charge, baryon number, or lepton number, to give 3 examples.
Baryon number and lepton number: fine, I can see that.
Electric charge... well, consider the process "up -> down + W+" - the arrows have no relation to the flow of electric charge.
 

1. What is a Feynman diagram neutron arrow?

A Feynman diagram neutron arrow is a graphical representation of a neutron interaction in particle physics. It shows the trajectory of a neutron and the exchange of virtual particles with other particles in the interaction.

2. How is a Feynman diagram neutron arrow used in research?

Feynman diagram neutron arrows are used by scientists in research to visualize and calculate the probabilities of different interactions between particles. They are an important tool in the study of subatomic particles and their behavior.

3. Who developed the concept of Feynman diagram neutron arrow?

The concept of Feynman diagram neutron arrows was developed by physicist Richard Feynman in the 1940s. He used them as a visual aid to explain complex particle interactions in quantum field theory.

4. Are Feynman diagram neutron arrows based on actual observations?

No, Feynman diagram neutron arrows are not based on actual observations. They are a theoretical tool used to represent and calculate the probabilities of particle interactions based on the principles of quantum mechanics.

5. Can Feynman diagram neutron arrows be used to predict the outcome of experiments?

Yes, Feynman diagram neutron arrows can be used to predict the outcome of experiments involving particle interactions. However, they are not always accurate and may require adjustments to match experimental results.

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