Relative sign in diagrams for ##Z##-boson exchange for ##WW## scattering

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
5 replies · 2K views
spaghetti3451
Messages
1,311
Reaction score
31
Consider the scattering process ##W^{+}W^{-} \to W^{+}W^{-}##. This process is mediated in the Standard Model by

1. a four-##W## scattering,
2. ##Z##-boson exchange,
3. Higgs exchange.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let us consider the diagrams for ##Z##-boson exchange:

82a12c3798.png
Why is there a relative minus sign between the matrix elements for the two diagrams?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Newbie here...have you considered that the relative minus sign btwn two terms is dictated by the Fermi-Dirac stats? something about a possible closed loop - which carries the extra minus sign.

I hope this helps.

Deneen
 
how can you use Fermi-Dirac statistics for W/Z bosons?
Also I think that that minus sign mentioned in your reference appears between t- and u- channels...
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: spaghetti3451
@spaghetti3451 Could you explain why you think there should be a relative minus in the first place for this process? There is no u channel process here in the case of a Z mediator.