Weak Isospin - Weak Isospin and The W Bosons

Weak Isospin and The W Bosons

The symmetry associated with spin is SU(2). This requires gauge bosons to transform between weak isospin charges: bosons W+, W− and W0. This implies that W bosons have a T = 1, with three different values of T3.

  • W+ boson (T3 = +1) is emitted in transitions {(T3 = +1⁄2) → (T3 = −1⁄2)},
  • W− boson (T3 = −1) is emitted in transitions {(T3 = −1⁄2) → (T3 = +1⁄2)}.
  • W0 boson (T3 = 0) would be emitted in reactions where T3 does not change. However, under electroweak unification, the W0 boson mixes with the weak hypercharge gauge boson B, resulting in the observed Z0 boson and the photon of Quantum Electrodynamics.

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