Z Bosons to Lepton Pairs: Why Equal for All?

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SUMMARY

The branching ratio of Z bosons into lepton-antilepton pairs is equal for all leptons due to the universal coupling of the Z boson to leptons. The mass of the Z boson, being significantly greater than that of any lepton, minimizes phase space effects, resulting in a consistent branching ratio across different lepton types. This fundamental property of the Z boson ensures that its decay behavior remains uniform regardless of the lepton mass variations.

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DuckAmuck
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Hi guys,
Quick question:
Why is the branching ratio of Z bosons into a lepton-antilepton pair equal for all leptons?
Is it not dependent on mass?
Thanks
DA
 
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The Z coupling to leptons is universal. The Z is much heavier than even the heaviest leptons, so phase space effects are tiny.
 

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