Weinberg angle in terms of Higgs mass

In summary, the Weinberg angle ##\Theta_{W}## can be expressed as $$\cos\Theta_{W} = M_{W}/M_{Z}$$ and cannot be written in terms of the Higgs mass and the mass of the W boson as $$\sin^{2}\Theta_{W}= m_{H}/M_{W}$$ because the latter expression results in a value greater than 1 and the Weinberg angle is only a function of the coupling constants of SU(2) and U(1).
  • #1
spaghetti3451
1,344
33
The Weinberg angle ##\Theta_{W}## is commonly expressed as

$$\cos\Theta_{W} = M_{W}/M_{Z}.$$

Can the Weinberg angle ##\Theta_{W}## be expressed in terms of the Higgs mass and the mass of the W boson as

$$\sin^{2}\Theta_{W}= m_{H}/M_{W}?$$
 
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  • #2
Of course not. Did you even try and plug the numbers in?
 
  • #3
spaghetti3451 said:
\Theta_{W} be expressed in terms of the Higgs mass and the mass of the W boson as
why?
that's the sin^2:
[itex]\sin^2 \theta =1 - \cos^2 \theta = 1 - \frac{M_W^2}{M_Z^2} = \frac{M_Z^2 - M_W^2 }{M_Z^2} \approx 0.22 [/itex]
Your expression doesn't even make sense (for a sin), since the right hand side of your equation is >1 (the higgs is heavier than the W).

And you can't write it in terms of the Higgs mass, because the masses of the W and Z from the Higgs mechanism (with Higgs' vev [itex]v[/itex]) are found:
[itex] M_W = v \frac{g}{2}[/itex]
[itex] M_Z = v \frac{\sqrt{g^2+g'^2}}{2}[/itex]
[itex] \cos \theta \equiv \frac{M_Z}{M_W} = \frac{g}{\sqrt{g^2+g'^2}}[/itex]
with [itex]g,g'[/itex] the coupling constants of [itex]SU(2),U(1)[/itex] respectively. This is only a function of the coupling constants of [itex]SU(2)[/itex] and [itex]U(1)[/itex] (can be interpreted as the angle between the constants if you represent them as orthogonal vectors). If [itex]\cos \theta[/itex] is not a function of any quantity that's proportional to the Higgs' mass ([itex]m_H^2 =2 v^2 \lambda [/itex]), then neither is [itex]\theta[/itex].
 
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Related to Weinberg angle in terms of Higgs mass

What is the Weinberg angle in terms of Higgs mass?

The Weinberg angle, also known as the weak mixing angle, is a fundamental parameter in the Standard Model of particle physics. It describes the strength of the interaction between the W and Z bosons and is related to the masses of these particles and the Higgs boson.

How is the Weinberg angle related to the Higgs mass?

The Weinberg angle is related to the Higgs mass through the Higgs mechanism, which is responsible for giving particles their mass. The Higgs mass is determined by the Higgs field, and the strength of the Higgs field is affected by the Weinberg angle.

Why is the Weinberg angle important in particle physics?

The Weinberg angle is important because it helps explain the symmetry breaking of the electroweak force and gives particles their mass. It is also a key parameter in the Standard Model, which is the most successful theory we have for explaining the behavior of subatomic particles.

How is the Weinberg angle experimentally measured?

The Weinberg angle can be experimentally measured through a process called electroweak precision tests. These tests involve measuring the properties of the W and Z bosons and comparing them to theoretical predictions based on the Weinberg angle.

Can the Weinberg angle change over time?

According to the Standard Model, the Weinberg angle is a constant and does not change over time. However, some theoretical models predict that it may vary under certain conditions, such as at high energies or in the presence of exotic particles.

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