The Weak Force, searching for understanding.

[JohnSSM]

EM and EMF seem so easy to understand. Gravity and relativity are graspable with enough study. Im in the middle of understanding the strong force and the gluon field. But the weak force is a total mystery to me. Is there a boson field? It seems there may be more than one.

But what is the weak force? The strong force is binding energy that keeps quarks and such in their QCD dance. But truly, what is the weak force?

Is it the rules that dictate elementary particle interactions, which result in radiation and such? What does it come down to? How can a layman understand it?

Ive often thought that maybe the weak force was simply a type of binding energy that wasnt as strong as the strong force. And if it is, what is it binding?

All I really know is that we enter the world where elementary particles start interacting and exchanging energy and mass and emitting other elementary particles...IS this the weak force? What is the force?

Any type of explanations of references are appreciated.

[Strange]

The weak force is mediated by the W and Z bosons. This seems like a good intro: http://www.livescience.com/49254-weak-force.html

[JohnSSM]

Yes...that did add some understanding, but its all still pretty fuzzy,,,

They discuss how the weak force does "bind" things at very very small distances...But they dont mention what is being bound.

"the weak force is actually an attractive force that works at an extremely short range of about 0.1 percent of the diameter of a proton,"

"By emitting an electrically charged W boson, the weak force changes the flavor of a quark, which causes a proton to change into a neutron, or vice versa. "

So, the weak force is what allows the emission of a W boson from a quark? which then changes it's flavor, and then influences the hadron in which it resides?

SO the weak force is binding the W boson in a quark? And the strong force is binding quarks and hadrons?

Im just trying to nail it down...

But the entire thing makes me rethink photons and light...Every source of light involves a quantum reaction of electrons? Its a quantum particle that we are able to see and it's simple purpose is transferring it's quantum info between quantum EM particles?

Seeing light is no small thing...its amazing

[MigL]

Instead of thinking about a force 'binding' things or 'attracting/repelling', think instead of things 'interacting' by the manifestation of their field's bosons. In this case, the weakly interacting and very short range ( due to their mass ) W and Z bosons.

[Mordred]

Might help to Google quantum flavor dynamics. There is several quantum numbers the weak force mediates.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavour_(particle_physics)

 

There is three forms of charge.

Electromagnetic, color and flavor.

This lengthy article has a decent coverage.

 

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=35&ved=0CCwQFjAEOB5qFQoTCOPhmOuz7cYCFUUWHgod21IA3w&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cmi.ac.in%2F~govind%2Fteaching%2Fparticle-phys-pg-o14%2Fparticle-phys-notes-gk-2014.pdf&rct=j&q=quantum%20flavordynamics%20introduction%20pdf&ei=cdmuVaPlBsWseNulgfgN&usg=AFQjCNEvdQLx4KN3Rb0AO4PkSDTY-K4-1Q&sig2=YcX8ai1dF8dEd2Gtiv90rw

Edited July 21, 2015 by Mordred

[ajb]

The weak force you should think of as the force responsible for 'particle changes' rather than a binding force.

[JohnSSM]

But it says that ""the weak force is actually an attractive force that works at an extremely short range of about 0.1 percent of the diameter of a proton,"

IS that just how close you must be in order to interact through QFD?

If it is an attractive force, as this article represents, what is it keeping together? Maybe their own wording was bad...

[ajb]

The force is very short ranged, you can see this as the reasonable exchange bosons are quite massive. The force itself can be both attractive and repulsive depending on the isospin charges and weak hypercharges of the particles involved. It is something similar to 'like charges repulse' and 'dislike charges attract'. We don't really think of it as binding anything together as it is so weak; it is related to being able to particles being able to change.

Edited July 22, 2015 by ajb

[JohnSSM]

But arent they "able to change" because a w or z boson escaped from an elementary particle because the force is weak? If the weak force were stronger, it would keep these W and Z bosons from being able to interact with another particle? This would ruin everything...SO the weak force is still a force, not just a method for emitting particles...even though thats what its main purpose begets...

[ajb]

But arent they "able to change" because a w or z boson escaped from an elementary particle because the force is weak?

It sounds like you are thinking that a W or a Z is 'trapped' inside an elementary particle. That is not the way to think.

 

The weak interaction allows quarks to change flavour, such as in beta decay.

[swansont]

Every source of light involves a quantum reaction of electrons?

No. Electrons don't need to be involved

[JohnSSM]

No. Electrons don't need to be involved

Gotcha...I thought electrons because of the association with EM...it wasnt a well thought statement...

 

 

Do you all know a good reference page that shows all the fields and the particles that react with them?

 

Do all the gauge bosons interact with all quarks and leptons? Do some only react with others?

 

[swansont]

Do you all know a good reference page that shows all the fields and the particles that react with them?

 

Do all the gauge bosons interact with all quarks and leptons? Do some only react with others?

http://electron6.phys.utk.edu/phys250/modules/module%206/images/particle_chart.jpg

Gotcha...I thought electrons because of the association with EM...it wasnt a well thought statement...

EM interaction means charge is involved somewhere, but not necessarily electrons.

[Mordred]

That's a nice chart. I'll have to save that link