Quark decay and particle materialization

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of particle creation during beta decay, specifically focusing on the role of the W boson in the process and the meaning of "materialization" in this context. Participants explore theoretical implications, energy conservation, and the nature of particles involved in the decay process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks clarification on the term "materialize" regarding how the W boson facilitates the creation of an electron and an antineutrino during beta decay.
  • Another participant suggests that "materialize" simply means that the particles are created, questioning how wavefunctions could collapse if the particles did not exist beforehand.
  • A participant asks how a boson can create a particle-antiparticle pair without violating energy conservation laws.
  • In response, a participant argues that energy is drawn from a down quark during its conversion to an up quark, which is lighter, thus not violating energy conservation.
  • One participant speculates whether electrons and antineutrinos could be constituents of the W boson or the neutron, while another counters that they are created from the mass/energy of the particle during decay.
  • A later reply emphasizes that in particle collisions, new particles can emerge with greater rest mass than the original particles, indicating energy conversion rather than composition.
  • It is noted that W bosons can decay into quark-antiquark pairs, and the energy and mass in these processes are accounted for, suggesting that W bosons cannot be composed of the particles created in decay.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of particle creation and the nature of the W boson, with no consensus reached on the foundational questions regarding materialization and energy conservation.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about particle interactions and the definitions of terms like "materialize," which may vary among participants. There are also unresolved questions regarding the specifics of energy conservation in particle decay processes.

rustynail
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Hello!

I have read that in the case of beta decay, a neutron becomes a proton

neutron = proton + electron + antineutrino

but the electron and antineutrino are ''materialized'' by the emission of an intermediate w- boson. What does ''materialize'' mean in this context? I have thought of the w boson inputting the necessary energy to collapse the electron's and antineutrino's wafe function in some place where their probabilities are nonzero.

Can anyone help me understand the meaning of 'materialize' in this context ?
 
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Sounds like they just mean that it is created. How could the wavefunctions collapse if the particles didn't exist before that?
 
How are they created?
 
Would anyone mind shedding some light on this problem?
How can a boson create a particle-antiparticle pair without breaking the energy conservation law?
 
rustynail said:
Would anyone mind shedding some light on this problem?
How can a boson create a particle-antiparticle pair without breaking the energy conservation law?

What about it breaks the conservation law? The energy is removed from a down quark as it is converted to an up quark which is lighter in mass.
 
Ok thank you.

But, now, wouldn't it imply that electrons and antineutrinos are some of the constituents of the W boson, and by extension, of the neutron?
 
rustynail said:
Ok thank you.

But, now, wouldn't it imply that electrons and antineutrinos are some of the constituents of the W boson, and by extension, of the neutron?

Nope. They are created by the mass/energy of the particle when it decays. Note that in particle colliders it is routine to collide two or more particles together and get a shower of newly created particles that have a rest mass GREATER than the rest mass of the original colliding particles. This does not imply that the original particles were made up of all these other particles, but that the energy of the original particles is converted into mass for creation.

See here for more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elementary_particle

Edit: Forgot to mention the fact that W-Bosons can also decay into quark-antiquark pairs. In this case and in the beta decay case, the energy and mass is completely accounted for. If both quark-antiquarks AND electrons and neutrions were created at the same time that would be a violation, as there isn't enough energy. So clearly a W-Boson cannot be composed of any of these particles as we should see them in every decay, which we don't.
 
Last edited:
Thank you, I appreciate !
 

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