Undergrad Right chiral vs left chiral electrons in the standard model

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Left chiral and right chiral electrons are treated as different particles in the Standard Model due to their distinct quantum numbers, with left chiral electrons forming a doublet and right chiral electrons acting as a singlet under SU(2). This difference affects their participation in weak interactions, where they behave differently. In high-energy collisions, where mass is negligible, the chiral nature may influence calculations, but they are fundamentally distinct due to their quantum properties. The discussion also raises questions about whether bosons are similarly categorized into left and right chiral fields, focusing primarily on fermions. Overall, the distinction between chiralities is crucial for understanding particle interactions in the Standard Model.
HBrown
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In what sense (if any) is the right chiral and left chiral electron different particles in the standard model?
Sometimes I hear particle physicists refer to left/right chiral electrons as different particles that are 'mixed' by the mass term. Maybe I misunderstood entirely, but if there is even a handwavy sense in which this is the case, clarifications would be appreciated. In high energy collisions where the mass is negligible, do these start to enter calculations as two different kinds of particles or something?
 
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HBrown said:
Summary:: In what sense (if any) is the right chiral and left chiral electron different particles in the standard model?

Sometimes I hear particle physicists refer to left/right chiral electrons as different particles that are 'mixed' by the mass term. Maybe I misunderstood entirely, but if there is even a handwavy sense in which this is the case, clarifications would be appreciated. In high energy collisions where the mass is negligible, do these start to enter calculations as two different kinds of particles or something?
They have different quantum numbers. One is a singlet under the SU(2) of the Standard model while the other is part of a doublet. This means that they participate very differently to weak interactions.
 
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Are any of the bosons also separated into two different left/right chiral fields? Or only the fermions?
 

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