The Outcome of W+ and W- Boson Collision

[VreemdeGozer]

I was just wondering, what would happen when a W+ boson and a W- boson collide?

 

[Drakkith]

Since they are antiparticles of each other they would annihilate.

 

[robert2734]

I thought they form a Z particle. Since the W are themselves affected of the weak force.

 

[Drakkith]

To the best of my knowledge they would annihilate each other. However, I have not looked into details, so it might be that the W and Z bosons are different somehow. I have simply never seen anything that said that.

 

[Hepth]

Take a look at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroweak_interaction

The lagrangian terms with a W+ W- and something else are the simplest vertices involving that collision.

I see W+ W- >>>>
A
Z
WW
AA ZZ AZ
Higgs terms, etc

Where A = photon, Z = Z boson and WW = another W+ W- pair.