"The weak interaction, which is also often called the weak force or weak nuclear force, is one of the four known fundamental interactions."
Expands on the work of QED to include the study of weak interactions and gauge bosons like W and Z bosons.
Quantum mechanics: The foundation on which quantum field theory is built. It provides the mathematical framework to describe the behavior of subatomic particles and their interactions.
Special and general relativity: The theories governing the behavior of objects moving at relativistic speeds and the behavior of gravity, respectively. These theories are necessary for understanding the behavior of particles interacting in high-energy environments.
Standard Model of Particle Physics: A theoretical framework describing the behavior of the fundamental particles and their interactions. It includes the weak interaction, along with the strong and electromagnetic interactions.
Gauge theories: Mathematical frameworks used to describe the interactions between particles. The weak interaction is a gauge theory.
Feynman diagrams: A pictorial representation of particle interactions that allows for the calculation of scattering probabilities between particles. Feynman diagrams are used extensively in the study of weak interaction processes.
Mass and energy scales: The mass and energy scales involved in weak interactions are much higher than those typically encountered in everyday life. Understanding these scales is critical to understanding the behavior of these interactions.
Neutrinos: Subatomic particles that interact weakly with matter. The study of neutrinos has been instrumental in the development of our understanding of weak interactions.
Quantum field theory: A framework that describes the behavior of particles as fields that permeate space and time. The weak interaction is a quantum field theory.
Symmetry breaking: The process by which the symmetry of an underlying physical law is broken, resulting in the appearance of mass and other properties. Symmetry breaking is central to our understanding of the weak interaction.
Higgs boson: A particle that is thought to be responsible for the mass of fundamental particles. Its discovery was a major milestone in the study of weak interactions.
Beta-minus decay: It is a weak interaction that occurs when a neutron in the nucleus of an atom decays into a proton, releasing an electron and an anti-neutrino.
Beta-plus decay: It is the reverse process of beta-minus decay, which occurs when a proton in the nucleus of an atom decays into a neutron, releasing a positron and a neutrino.
Electron capture: It is a type of weak interaction in which an electron is absorbed by the nucleus of an atom, which then decays into a new element, releasing a neutrino.
Neutron decay: It is a type of weak interaction where a neutron decays into a proton, an electron and an anti-neutrino.
Muon decay: Muon decay is a type of weak interaction that occurs when a muon changes spontaneously into an electron, two neutrinos, and other particles.
Tauon decay: Tauon decay is a type of weak interaction that occurs when a tauon changes spontaneously into an electron or a muon, neutrinos, and other particles.
"...with the others being electromagnetism, the strong interaction, and gravitation."
"It is the mechanism of interaction between subatomic particles that is responsible for the radioactive decay of atoms."
"The weak interaction participates in nuclear fission and nuclear fusion."
"The theory describing its behavior and effects is sometimes called quantum flavor dynamics (QFD)."
"However, the term QFD is rarely used because the weak force is better understood by electroweak theory (EWT)."
"The effective range of the weak force is limited to subatomic distances..."
"...and is less than the diameter of a proton."
"...the weak interaction, which is also often called the weak force or weak nuclear force, is one of the four known fundamental interactions."
"...with the others being electromagnetism, the strong interaction, and gravitation."
"The weak interaction is responsible for the radioactive decay of atoms."
"The weak interaction participates in nuclear fission and nuclear fusion."
"The theory describing its behavior and effects is sometimes called quantum flavor dynamics (QFD)."
"However, the term QFD is rarely used because the weak force is better understood by electroweak theory (EWT)."
"The effective range of the weak force is limited to subatomic distances..."
"...and is less than the diameter of a proton."
"The weak interaction is responsible for the radioactive decay of atoms."
"The weak interaction, which is also often called the weak force or weak nuclear force, is one of the four known fundamental interactions."
"The weak interaction differs from other fundamental interactions such as electromagnetism, the strong interaction, and gravitation."
"The weak interaction participates in nuclear fission and nuclear fusion."