Weinberg angle in terms of Higgs mass

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SUMMARY

The Weinberg angle, denoted as ##\Theta_{W}##, is defined by the relationship $$\cos\Theta_{W} = M_{W}/M_{Z}$$ and cannot be expressed in terms of the Higgs mass and the W boson mass as $$\sin^{2}\Theta_{W}= m_{H}/M_{W}$$. The argument against this expression is supported by the fact that the right-hand side exceeds 1, indicating a fundamental inconsistency. The masses of the W and Z bosons are derived from the Higgs mechanism, specifically through the equations $$M_W = v \frac{g}{2}$$ and $$M_Z = v \frac{\sqrt{g^2+g'^2}}{2}$$, where g and g' are the coupling constants of SU(2) and U(1), respectively. Thus, the Weinberg angle is solely a function of these coupling constants and not related to the Higgs mass.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Higgs mechanism in particle physics
  • Familiarity with SU(2) and U(1) gauge theories
  • Knowledge of boson mass relationships in electroweak theory
  • Basic grasp of trigonometric identities in physics
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  • Study the derivation of the Higgs mechanism and its implications for particle masses
  • Explore the role of coupling constants in electroweak interactions
  • Investigate the mathematical relationships between the W and Z boson masses
  • Learn about the implications of the Weinberg angle in electroweak unification
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Particle physicists, theoretical physicists, and students studying the Standard Model of particle physics will benefit from this discussion, particularly those interested in the relationships between fundamental particle masses and gauge theories.

spaghetti3451
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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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Of course not. Did you even try and plug the numbers in?
 
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:
\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
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 v) are found:
M_W = v \frac{g}{2}
M_Z = v \frac{\sqrt{g^2+g'^2}}{2}
\cos \theta \equiv \frac{M_Z}{M_W} = \frac{g}{\sqrt{g^2+g'^2}}
with g,g' the coupling constants of SU(2),U(1) respectively. This is only a function of the coupling constants of SU(2) and U(1) (can be interpreted as the angle between the constants if you represent them as orthogonal vectors). If \cos \theta is not a function of any quantity that's proportional to the Higgs' mass (m_H^2 =2 v^2 \lambda), then neither is \theta.
 
Last edited:

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