Feynman diagrams - neutrino interactions

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on Feynman diagrams illustrating neutrino interactions, specifically involving an incoming neutrino interacting with a W boson and emitting an electron. The interaction rate of neutrinos is notably low, allowing them to traverse significant distances, such as 18 light years of lead, without interacting. The conversation highlights the concept of time symmetry in particle interactions, referencing beta decay as a key example. The discussion also emphasizes the conservation of lepton number in interactions involving W and Z bosons.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Feynman diagrams and particle physics
  • Knowledge of W and Z boson interactions
  • Familiarity with beta decay processes
  • Concept of lepton number conservation
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of inverse beta decay and its implications in neutrino physics
  • Explore advanced topics in particle interactions involving W and Z bosons
  • Investigate the role of neutrinos in astrophysics and their detection methods
  • Review the concept of time symmetry in quantum mechanics and its applications
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Physicists, students of particle physics, and researchers interested in neutrino interactions and their implications in theoretical and experimental physics.

billbray
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I have some well ordered feyman diagrams which have an incoming neutrino interacting at a vertex with a w boson and emitting an electron. since a neutrino can pass through some 18 light years of led without interacting, I'm wandering how a single neutrino interacts at this vertex?
 
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The interaction rate is small, but not zero. That's why it's 18 light years and not 180 or 1800.
 
The first thing you should think of is beta-decay where a neutrino is emitted, if a particle can be the final product, it can also be the initial probe (time symmetry).

here is the beta decay:
http://teachers.web.cern.ch/teachers/archiv/HST2002/feynman/exampl2.gif
(the wavy line is the W boson)

and this is the process if p was heavier than n:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/astro/imgast/ppfustep.gif

W couples to lepton and its neutrino, e.g. electron + (anti) electron neutrino (lepton # must be conserved)

Z couples to lepton and antilepton, e.g. eletron + positron / electron neutrino + anti electron neutrino

Neutrinos mainly interact with matter (as incoming particles) via inverse beta decay
 

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