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Quarks and leptons: introductory course in modern particle physics

Francis Halzen, Alan D. Martin

Chapter 13

Electroweak Interactions - all with Video Answers

Educators


Chapter Questions

01:00

Problem 1

Verify the quark quantum numbers given in Table 13.1.

Carlos Henrique De Lima
Carlos Henrique De Lima
Numerade Educator

Problem 2

If the vertex factor for the decay of a vector boson $\mathrm{X}$ into two spin- $\frac{1}{2}$ fermions $\mathrm{f}_1$ and $\overline{\mathrm{f}}_2$ is
$$
-i g_X \gamma^\mu \frac{1}{2}\left(c_V-c_A \gamma^5\right),
$$
then show that
$$
\Gamma\left(X \rightarrow f_1 \hat{f}_2\right)=\frac{g_X^2}{48 \pi}\left(c_V^2+c_A^2\right) M_X,
$$
where $M_X$ is the mass of the boson and where we have neglected the masses of the fermions.

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02:26

Problem 3

Assuming the standard model coupling, show that
$$
\Gamma\left(Z \rightarrow \nu_e \bar{\nu}_e\right)=\frac{g^2}{96 \pi \cos ^2 \theta_W} M_Z,
$$
see Exercise 13.2. Given that $\sin ^2 \theta_W=0.25$ and $M_Z=90 \mathrm{GeV}$, predict the numerical value of the partial width.

Vikash Ranjan
Vikash Ranjan
Numerade Educator

Problem 4

Calculate the partial widths of the three decay modes $\mathrm{Z} \rightarrow \mathrm{e}^{+} \mathrm{e}^{-}$, ūu, $\bar{d} d$. Hence, predict the total width of the $\mathrm{Z}$ in the standard model, assuming $\sin ^2 \theta_W=\frac{1}{4}$ and $M_Z=90 \mathrm{GeV}$. Do not forget color.

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01:05

Problem 5

Repeat Exercise 13.3 for the $\mathrm{W}^{+} \rightarrow \mathrm{e}^{+} \nu_e$ decay mode; take $M_W=80 \mathrm{GeV}$.

Carlos Henrique De Lima
Carlos Henrique De Lima
Numerade Educator

Problem 6

Calculate the partial widths of the two decay modes $\mathrm{W}^{+} \rightarrow \overline{\mathrm{d} u}$, su; use (12.102) and (12.103). Predict the total width of the $\mathrm{W}^{+}$ in the standard model.

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Problem 7

If $\nu \mathrm{e} \rightarrow \nu$ e scattering proceeds by $\mathrm{Z}$ exchange, show that (13.46) is obtained from the Feynman rules using (13.41) as the vertex factor. In particular, use the expression for the boson propagator (see Section 6.17 ) to verify that $(13.46)$ is valid provided the four-momentum transfer $q$ is such that $\left|q^2\right| \ll M_Z^2$.

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Problem 8

Equation (13.47) is valid if $\mathrm{m}^2 / \mathrm{s} \& 1$. If the electron mass $m$ is not ignored, show that the extra contribution to $(13.47)$ is
$$
-G^2 m^2 y\left(c_V^2-c_A^2\right) / 2 \pi
$$

The process $v, \mathrm{e}^{-} \rightarrow \nu, \mathrm{e}^{-}$offers the intriguing possibility of studying charged current and neutral current interference, see Fig. 13.4. The amplitude for diagram (a) is $\Re^{N C}$ of (13.46) with $\nu=\nu_e$. For diagram (b); we have
$$
\Re^{C C}=-\frac{G}{\sqrt{2}}\left[\bar{e} \gamma^\mu\left(1-\gamma^5\right) \nu_e\right]\left[\overline{\nu_e} \gamma_\mu\left(1-\gamma^5\right) e\right],
$$
where the minus sign relative to (13.46) arises from interchange of the outgoing leptons [see (6.9)]. We may use the Fierz reordering theorem, see, for example, Bailin (1982), to rewrite (13.50) as
$$
\mathscr{9 k}^{C C}=\frac{G}{\sqrt{2}}\left(\overline{\nu_e} \gamma^\mu\left(1-\gamma^5\right) \nu_e\right)\left(\bar{e} \gamma_\mu\left(1-\gamma^5\right) e\right) \text {. }
$$

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01:00

Problem 8

Show that (13.51) follows from (13.50). The invariance under reordering of the spinors is an important property of the $\boldsymbol{V}-\boldsymbol{A}$ interaction. The effect of reordering in the scalar product of bilinear covariants is, in general, much more involved. The answer is the Fierz theorem.

Dominador Tan
Dominador Tan
Numerade Educator

Problem 10

Using the couplings in the standard model, calculate $R_\mu$ at $s=M_Z^2$. Use $\sin ^2 \theta_W=\frac{1}{4}, M_Z=90 \mathrm{GeV}$, and $\Gamma_Z=2.5 \mathrm{GeV}$.

It is relevant to ask what electroweak effects occur in $\mathrm{e}^{+} \mathrm{e}^{-} \rightarrow \overline{\mathrm{q}} \mathrm{q}$. They are not the same as in $\mathrm{e}^{+} \mathrm{e}^{-} \rightarrow \mu^{+} \mu^{-}$, since $c_{V, A}^q \neq c_{V, A^*}^\mu$. However, the calculation proceeds exactly as above. For instance, the counterpart to (13.60) is
where $Q_q$ is the charge of the quark and the factor 3 is for color. Following through the calculation, the analogous result to (13.68) is
$$
\frac{\sigma\left(\mathrm{e}^{+} \mathrm{e}^{-} \rightarrow \overline{\mathrm{q}} \mathrm{q}\right)}{\sigma_0} \equiv R_q=3\left[Q_q^2+2 Q_q \operatorname{Re}(r) c_V^q c_V^e+|r|^2\left(c_V^{q 2}+c_A^{q 2}\right)\left(c_V^{e 2}+c_A^{e 2}\right)\right] \text {. }
$$

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00:41

Problem 11

Follow Exercise 13.10 and calculate $R_u$ and $R_d$ at $s=M_Z^2$. Hence, calculate $\sigma\left(\mathrm{e}^{+} \mathrm{e}^{-} \rightarrow\right.$ hadrons $)$ at the $\mathrm{Z}$ resonance.

The numerical results of Exercises 13.10 and 13.11 give $R$ 's in the region 100-1000. This has crucial implications. Very large enhancements over $\sigma_0$ are therefore expected at beam energies $E \sim M_Z / 2$, provided the neutral current interaction is mediated by a $\mathrm{Z}$ boson. This is a major motivation for the new $50+50 \mathrm{GeV} \mathrm{e}^{+} \mathrm{e}^{-}$collider being constructed at CERN, Geneva. Since $M_Z \approx 90$ $\mathrm{GeV}$, the $\mathrm{Z}$ boson should be copiously produced at the new collider and its properties, and those of its decay products, studied in a clean environment, without the confusing background debris which accompanies a hadronic collision.

Carlos Henrique De Lima
Carlos Henrique De Lima
Numerade Educator

Problem 12

Verify (13.73). Assume that $k^2 \ll M_Z^2$ and that the target contains equal numbers of $u$ and $d$ quarks (i.e., it is an isoscalar target), and neglect antiquarks. Show that, in the standard model,
$$
\begin{aligned}
& a_1=-\frac{3}{4}\left(1-\frac{20}{9} \sin ^2 \theta_W\right), \\
& a_2=-\frac{3}{4}\left(1-4 \sin ^2 \theta_W\right) .
\end{aligned}
$$

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