Why do we never observe the decay of this particle?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter oosgood
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Decay Particle
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the decay processes of the Ʃ(minus) and Ʃ(plus) baryons. The Ʃ(minus) baryon decays into a neutron, an electron, and an electron antineutrino, while the Ʃ(plus) baryon does not decay into a neutron and a positron with an electron neutrino. The distinction arises from their composition; the Ʃ(plus) is made up of two up quarks and one strange quark (suu), necessitating two W boson exchanges, while the Ʃ(minus) consists of two down quarks and one strange quark (sdd), requiring only one W boson exchange. This difference in decay mechanisms is attributed to their roles within an isospin triplet rather than being a particle-antiparticle pair.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of baryon decay processes
  • Familiarity with quark composition and flavor exchange
  • Knowledge of W boson interactions in particle physics
  • Basic concepts of isospin and particle-antiparticle relationships
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the decay mechanisms of baryons in particle physics
  • Study the role of W bosons in flavor-changing interactions
  • Explore the concept of isospin and its implications in particle physics
  • Investigate the properties and decays of other baryons in the isospin triplet
USEFUL FOR

Particle physicists, students of quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the decay processes of baryons and the interactions of fundamental particles.

oosgood
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Hey why do we observe the Ʃ(minus) decay into n+e+anti-e-neutrino?But never

Ʃ+--->n + positron+ ve( electron neutrino)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
First (although the notation is confusing) [itex]Ʃ^{+}[/itex] and [itex]Ʃ^{-}[/itex] are not a particle-antiparticle pair, they are patners in an isospin triplet. So there is no reason that the two decays should be related. [itex]Ʃ^{+}[/itex] is composed of suu and it would two W exchanges (netral vector bosons don't mix flavour), while [itex]Ʃ^{-}[/itex] is composed of sdd which requires only one W exchange.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
5K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K