Computing Differential Decay of W Boson at Rest

In summary, in the conversation, the speaker is discussing their difficulty with computing a term involving the Levi-Civita symbol in the differential decay of the W boson at rest. However, the term is ultimately found to be zero due to the antisymmetry of the Levi-Civita symbol and the product of three antisymmetric tensors.
  • #1
andrex904
15
1
Hi, I'm trying to compute the differential decay of W boson at rest
$$W^+ \rightarrow e^+ \nu_e$$
where the boson has fixed spin along z axis, and so specific cirular polarization. Using Feynman rules i get
$$M=\frac{ig_w}{\sqrt{2}}\bar{u}(q)\gamma^\mu(\frac{1-\gamma_5}{2})v(k)\epsilon_\mu^\lambda(p)$$
and I'm in trouble with a term coming from trace
## \varepsilon^{\alpha \mu \beta \nu} q_\alpha k_\beta ## ## \epsilon^\lambda_\mu ## ## \epsilon^{*\lambda}_\nu ##
where ##\varepsilon## is the Levi-Civita symbol.
 
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  • #2
I have no idea how to compute it.The Levi-Civita symbol is antisymmetric in its indices, so the product of three antisymmetric tensors will be zero. Therefore, the term you are looking at is zero.
 

1. What is the "W boson" and why is it important in physics?

The W boson is one of the elementary particles in the Standard Model of particle physics. It is responsible for mediating the weak nuclear force, which is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. The W boson is important in physics because it helps explain the behavior of particles and interactions at the subatomic level.

2. What is "differential decay" and how is it different from regular decay?

Differential decay refers to the process of a particle decaying into two or more particles at different rates or with different probabilities. This is in contrast to regular decay, where a particle decays into a specific set of particles with fixed probabilities. Differential decay is important in studying the properties of particles and their interactions.

3. What does it mean to compute the differential decay of a W boson at rest?

Computing the differential decay of a W boson at rest involves using mathematical equations and models to determine the probabilities and rates at which the W boson will decay into different particles. This can provide valuable information about the properties and behavior of the W boson.

4. What factors affect the differential decay of a W boson at rest?

The differential decay of a W boson at rest can be affected by various factors such as the mass of the W boson, the energy of the particles involved in the decay, and the strength of the weak nuclear force. Other factors, such as the presence of other particles or interactions, can also have an impact on the differential decay.

5. How is the differential decay of a W boson at rest studied and measured in experiments?

The differential decay of a W boson at rest can be studied and measured through experiments at particle accelerators such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). These experiments involve colliding particles at high energies and analyzing the resulting decay products to determine the probabilities and rates of the W boson's decay. Advanced mathematical models and simulations are also used to study and measure the differential decay of the W boson.

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