The Electro-Weak

Interaction

U. Blumenschein

The GSW model

The Z boson

Experimental Tests
of the EWK theory
The Electro-Weak Interaction

U. Blumenschein

School of Physics and Astrophysics

Queen Mary University of London

EPP, SPA6306
 The Electro-Weak
Outline Interaction

U. Blumenschein

The GSW model

The Z boson

Experimental Tests
of the EWK theory

The GSW model

The Z boson

Experimental Tests of the EWK theory

 The Electro-Weak
Electroweak Unification Interaction

U. Blumenschein
. As in the previous lectures ~ = c = 0 = µ0 = 1 /
The GSW model
I Reminder: Dirac equation with EM field: replace ∂µ by
The Z boson
the covariant derivative Dµ = ∂µ + iqAµ :
Experimental Tests
µ µ of the EWK theory
iγ Dµ ψ = iγ (∂µ + iqAµ )ψ = mψ

I Can we include the weak interaction in a similar way?

I Glashow, Weinberg and Salam sought to unify
Electromagnetism with the Weak interaction showing
that they could be treated as different aspects of one
Electroweak Interaction: GSW theory.
 The Electro-Weak
The weak isospin Interaction

U. Blumenschein
I Charged weak interactions rotate
  the components
  of the
νe u The GSW model
left-chiral fermions doublets: , , etc
e L d0 L The Z boson

Experimental Tests
I Fermions as eigen states of the weak isospin and its of the EWK theory
(3)
third component, with quantum  numbers
 Iw and Iw :
1 (3)
I Up-type left-chiral fermion: , I = 12 , Iw = + 12
0 w
0 (3)
I Down-type left-chiral fermion: , Iw = 12 , Iw = − 21
1
I Right-chiral fermion: Iw = 0
I Pauli-matrices:
     
0 1 0 −i 1 0
σ1 = , σ2 = , σ3 =
1 0 i 0 0 −1
generate rotations in weak isospin space, e.g.
    
0 1 1 0
=
1 0 0 1
 The Electro-Weak
The primary electroweak fields Interaction

U. Blumenschein

I Include three primary weak fields each multiplied with a The GSW model

Pauli matrix: σ1 Wµ1 , σ2 Wµ2 , σ3 Wµ3 . They operate on The Z boson

the left-chiral doublets. Experimental Tests

of the EWK theory
I The covariant derivative Dµ becomes:
3
gw X
Dµ = ∂µ + i σk Wµk
2
k=1
I Detailed derivative for left-handed doublets ψL :

Wµ3 Wµ1 − iWµ2

 
igw
Dµ = ∂µ +
2 Wµ1 + iWµ2 −Wµ3

I As the Pauli matrices of Wµ1 and Wµ2 are off-diagonal,

they rotate left-chiral fermions in the weak space, e.g.
convert uL into dL0 .
 The Electro-Weak
The primary electroweak fields Interaction

U. Blumenschein

The GSW model

I Include also primary field Bµ , which couples to all The Z boson
(3)
fermions with
  the hypercharge Y= 2(Q − Iw ) Experimental Tests
of the EWK theory
νe u
Example: : Y = −1, : Y = 13
e L d0 L
Coupling constant g 0
I The EWK covariant derivative becomes:
3
Yg 0 gw X
Dµ = ∂µ + i Bµ + i σk Wµk
2 2
k=1
I Detailed derivative for left-handed doublets ψL ::

i Yg 0 Bµ + gw Wµ3 gw (Wµ1 − iWµ2 )

 
Dµ = ∂µ +
2 gw (Wµ1 + iWµ2 ) Yg 0 Bµ − gw Wµ3
 The Electro-Weak
Constructing the physical EW fields Interaction

U. Blumenschein

I The four physical fields Wµ+ , Wµ− , Zµ and Aµ are linear The GSW model

combinations of the four primary fields. The Z boson

Experimental Tests
I The two off-diagonal fields Wµ1 and Wµ2 combine to the of the EWK theory

W ±:
1 1
Wµ+ = √ (Wµ1 − iWµ2 ), Wµ− = √ (Wµ1 + iWµ2 )
2 2

I The two diagonal fields Wµ3 and Bµ combine to the

massless photon Aµ and the massive Zµ :
    
Aµ cosθW sinθW Bµ
=
Zµ −sinθW cosθW Wµ3
0
with the Weinberg angle θW = atan ggw
 The Electro-Weak
Relation between Weak and EM coupling Interaction

U. Blumenschein

I After replacing the diagonal fields Wµ3 and Bµ in the The GSW model
covariant derivative by Aµ and Zµ , the photon-related The Z boson
terms of Dµ for electrons and neutrinos become: Experimental Tests
of the EWK theory
ψνe : Dµ = ∂µ + i 0
2 (−g Aµ cosθW + gw Aµ sinθW ) + ...
ψeL : Dµ = ∂µ + i 0 − gw Aµ sinθW ) + ...
2 (−g Aµ cosθW

I Should be equivalent to the QED derivative:

ψνe : Dµ = ∂µ +0,
ψeL : Dµ = ∂µ −ieAµ
I We get the linear equation system:
0
− g2 cosθW + gw
2 sinθW =0
0
− g2 cosθW − gw
2 sinθW = −e

4παEM = e = gw sinθW = g 0 cosθW

p
⇒
 The Electro-Weak
The Weinberg angle Interaction

U. Blumenschein

The GSW model

I The Weak and the
√ EM couplings are related by the
The Z boson

Weinberg angle: 4παEM = e = gw sinθW Experimental Tests

of the EWK theory

I The Higgs mechanism (later) connects also the masses

of W and Z bosons: mW = mZ cosθW

I ⇒ We can describe the EWK sector with just 3

parameters, e.g. e, θW , mZ

I High precision measurements of effective Weinberg

angle: sin2 θW = 0.23152 ± 0.00016

I Translates into θW = 28.76◦ , cosθW = 0.8766,

sinθW = 0.0.4812
 The Electro-Weak
The Weinberg angle Interaction

U. Blumenschein
I sin2 θW measured at many experiments with high
The GSW model
precision: Test of consistency of EWK theory:
The Z boson

Experimental Tests
of the EWK theory
 The Electro-Weak
The Z boson coupling to fermions Interaction

U. Blumenschein
I The Z-related part of the covariant derivative contains
The GSW model
also only diagonal entries (no flavour change):
The Z boson
(3) Y
Dµ = ∂µ + iZµ (gw Iw cosθW − g 0 sinθW ) + ... Experimental Tests
of the EWK theory
2
gw
define conveniently: gZ ≡ cosθ W
⇒ g 0 = gZ sinθW
(at the Z mass energy scale: gW ≈ 0.65 ⇒ gZ ≈ 0.74)
(3) Y 2
Dµ = ∂µ + igZ Zµ (Iw cos 2 θW − sin θW ) + ...
2
(3)
with Y = 2(Qf − Iw ):
(3)
Dµ = ∂µ + igZ Zµ (Iw − Qf sin2 θW ) + ...
I ⇒ coupling parameters:
(3)
cL = Iw − Qf sin2 θw , cR = −Qf sin2 θw
(Also: vector and axial vector couplings cV = cL + cR , cA = cL − cR )
 The Electro-Weak
The Z boson coupling to fermions Interaction

U. Blumenschein

I Z couples to fermion+antifermion of the same flavour The GSW model

I Z couplings to the various fermion classes: The Z boson

(3)
cL = IW − Qf sin2 θw , cR = −Qf sin2 θw Experimental Tests
of the EWK theory

fermions cL cR
νe , νµ , ντ + 12 0
e, µ, τ − 12 + sin2 θW +sin2 θW
u, c, t + 12 − 23 sin2 θW − 23 sin2 θW
d, s, b − 12 + 13 sin2 θW + 13 sin2 θW
gZ2 mZ
I Z decay rates: Γ ∼ |M|2 : ΓZ →f f¯ = 24π (cL2 + cR2 )
I Total Z decay rate (3 quark colours, no top quarks):
ΓZ = 3Γνe νe + 3Γe + e − + 3 × 2Γuū + 3 × 3Γd d̄ ≈ 2.5 GeV
(QCD corrections for hadronic BF: multiply by 1.04)
 The Electro-Weak
Weak NC Examples Interaction

U. Blumenschein

The GSW model

The Z boson

Experimental Tests
of the EWK theory
 The Electro-Weak
Evidence for GWS Model Interaction

U. Blumenschein
I Discovery of Neutral Currents (1973)
The GSW model
Observation of ν µ + e − → ν µ + e − . Only possible
The Z boson
through Z exchange. Experimental Tests
of the EWK theory
I Direct Observation of W and Z (1983)
Direct observation of the W and Z bosons at the SPS.
I Precision Measurements of the Standard Model
(1989-2000)
LEP e + e − collider provided many precision
measurements of the Standard Model.
I Precision Measurements at hadron colliders (2000ff)
Measurements of m(W ), sinWθ , processes with Triple

and Quartic Gauge boson Couplings.

The EWK theory is meanwhile over constrained
⇒ check for theory consistency. Inconsistencies could point
to new physics.
 The Electro-Weak
Experimental Tests of the EW Model at LEP Interaction

U. Blumenschein
I The Large Electron Positron (LEP) collider at CERN
The GSW model
operated 1989-2000 at CM energies of
√ The Z boson
s = 90 − 209 GeV. Experimental Tests
of the EWK theory

I Precision measurements, examples:

I Mass of the Z : mZ = 91.187 ± 0.002 GeV
I Total decay width: ΓZ = 2.4955 ± 0.0023 GeV
0
I Peak hadronic cross-section: σhad = 41.5004 ± 0.037nb
I Lepton branching fractions, sin2 θW , ....
 The Electro-Weak
The Z − γ Interference Interaction

U. Blumenschein
Consider the process e + e − → f f :
√ The GSW model
I At small s < 50 GeV, the photon conribution The Z boson
dominates 4πα2 Experimental Tests
σ= of the EWK theory
3s
I At higher energies, the Z exchange diagram contributes
(including Z − γ interference terms)

I The Z is a short-lived massive state (τZ ∼ 10−25 s)

⇒ Breit-Wigner resonance.
√
I Around s ∼ mZ , the Z diagram dominates.
 The Electro-Weak
Z Resonance with LEP Data Interaction

U. Blumenschein

I The process e + e − → qq has been measured over a The GSW model

large range of centre-of-mass energies The Z boson

Experimental Tests
of the EWK theory
 The Electro-Weak
Z width and neutrino generations Interaction

U. Blumenschein
I By measuring the total width of the resonance ΓZ and
the visible decay rates Γq , Γe/µ/τ we can determine the The GSW model

invisible decay rate Γν = ΓZ − Γq − Γe/µ/τ . The Z boson

Experimental Tests
I The measured invisible decay width corresponds to the of the EWK theory
predictions for 3 light neutrino generations:
Nν = 2.9919 ± 0.0081
W + W − at LEP
The Electro-Weak
Interaction

U. Blumenschein
I In e + e − collisions, W bosons are produced in pairs:
The GSW model

The Z boson

Experimental Tests
of the EWK theory

I Includes diagrams with Triple Gauge-boson Coupling

W + W − at LEP
The Electro-Weak
Interaction

U. Blumenschein
I Consider universal W couplings to five doublets (top
The GSW model
quarks are too heavy):
The Z boson
         
νe ν ν u c Experimental Tests
, µ , τ , , of the EWK theory
e L µ L τ L d0 L s0 L
I Quark doublets in 3 colours ⇒ 3 lepton dublets and
3 × 2 = 6 quark dublets.
I ⇒ W BR to leptons: 39 = 31 , W BR to quarks: 69 = 23
I ⇒ W + W − branching ratios:
22 4
BR(W + W − → qqqq) = =
33 9
+ − + − 21 4
BR(W W → qql l ) = 2 =
33 9
1 1 1
BR(W + W − → l + l − l + l − ) = =
33 9
I Consistent values measured - further evidence of colour
 The Electro-Weak
W mass measurement Interaction

U. Blumenschein
I Measured in several experiments at high precision
I Hadron colliders: fit to kinematic quantities, e.g. lepton The GSW model

transverse momentum The Z boson

Experimental Tests
of the EWK theory