Quantum Numbers of W+ Interaction with Higgs Field

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Fabio Kopp
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the quantum numbers of the W+ boson in its interaction with the Higgs field (h0), specifically focusing on the isospin, hypercharge, and their transformations before and after the interaction. The context includes theoretical aspects of electroweak interactions and the implications of the Higgs mechanism.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about determining the quantum numbers of the W+ boson before and after its interaction with the Higgs field, referencing Halzen's book.
  • Another participant asserts that W bosons do not have left/right chiral representations and instead come from the adjoint representation of SU(2), questioning which specific quantum numbers are being sought.
  • A participant clarifies their interest in the isospin, third component of isospin, and hypercharge of the W boson, noting the lack of references in several textbooks.
  • One participant suggests starting with the electroweak Lagrangian in its un-Higgsed form to understand the symmetry and the implications of spontaneous symmetry breaking on the gauge bosons.
  • Another participant states that W bosons do not have definite isospin or hypercharge before symmetry breaking and emphasizes the conservation of electric charge during the coupling to the Higgs field.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the quantum numbers of the W bosons and their relevance in the context of the Higgs interaction. There is no consensus on the specific quantum numbers or their implications.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various textbooks and concepts related to electroweak interactions and the Higgs mechanism, indicating potential limitations in the available literature regarding the specific quantum numbers of W bosons.

Fabio Kopp
Messages
16
Reaction score
0
I was studying the interaction of Higgs field with the Right-Handed particles, and I don't know how to determine the quantum numbers before and after the boson W+- interaction with the component of Higgs scalar Field (h0).
I am following the Halzen's book.
The h0 has the following quantum numbers:
Isospin = 1/2 ;
Y= 1
Isospin3=-1/2;
The example on the book is related with er (electron right handed) that after interaction with h0 becomes el(electron left handed). But for w+ interaction with h0, there is no reference to w+ quantum number.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
No there are no Left/Right W bosons because they are not in the chiral representation of SU(2) .They rather come from the adjoint representation of it, and so they have polarizations (instead of helicities).
Which quantum numbers are you looking for and for which coupling?
 
I'm looking for the Isospin, isospin(third component) and the hypercharge of gauge boson W+- before and after the interaction with Higgs scalar field (h0).
Because is there no mention of it in Halzen's book, Griffths'book and Greiner's book of electroweak interactions.
 
You should start with the construction of the electroweak Lagrangian in the un-Higgsed form to understand the symmetry. It's a chiral SU(2)##\times##U(1). The SU(2) is weak isospin and the U(1) weak hypercharge symmetry. The corresponding gauge bosons transform under global gauge transformations according to the adjoint representation of this gauge group.

After Higgsing, it's not so simple anymore. In a "handwaving way", not to be taken literally. You can understand the Higgs mechanism as spontaneous symmetry breaking of the local gauge symmetry. In the electroweak standard model it's broken to the electromagnetic U(1). The Z and the photon fields are mixtures of weak-isospin and weak hypercharge fields. Thus it's not so easy to get the right transformation properties under the original gauge transformations in terms of the W, Z, and em. fields without expressing them in terms of the original gauge fields.
 
I already done that study. But my doubt remains. Maybe this picture illustrate my doubt. Which are the quantum numbers(T,T^3,Y) of the gauge boson W before and after interaction with h0?.
1kUKcZo.png

This picture is from Quarks and Leptons (Halzen & Martin) chapter 15, section 4.
PS: T -> weak isospin;
T^3-> third component of weak isospin;
Y-> hypercharge.;
 
The W+- don't have definite isospin 3 neither hypercharge, they are combinations of W_{1,2}^\mu fields before the SSB...So in any case you don't have to care about their isospin when coupling to the Higgs. The only thing that should and does conserve, is the electric charge Q (which itself is a combination of the hypercharge and isospin component)
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Fabio Kopp
ChrisVer said:
The W+- don't have definite isospin 3 neither hypercharge, they are combinations of W_{1,2}^\mu fields before the SSB...So in any case you don't have to care about their isospin when coupling to the Higgs. The only thing that should and does conserve, is the electric charge Q (which itself is a combination of the hypercharge and isospin component)
Thanks for the help!
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K