Photon vs. Z-boson - one massive, one massless, mix of same things?

In summary, before applying the Higgs mechanism, there are a set of massless bosons including the photon, B, and W1, W2 & W3 bosons. These can be expressed as mixtures of states, which results in the production of a massive Z^0 through electroweak symmetry breaking. This is further explained in the provided link.
  • #1
jeebs
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Apparently before we apply the Higgs mechanism we have a set of massless bosons, the photon, the B, and the W1, W2 & W3 bosons.

I'm reading that the photon and Z boson that we are familiar with can be expressed as a combination of a mixture of some of these massless states:

[tex] \gamma = Bcos(\theta_w) + W_3sin(\theta_w) [/tex]
[tex] Z^0 = -Bsin(\theta_w) + W_3cos(\theta_w) [/tex]

In both cases, we have mixtures of two states that have no mass associated with them. Why is it that we produce a massive Z^0 out of this?
 
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Related to Photon vs. Z-boson - one massive, one massless, mix of same things?

1. What is the difference between a photon and a Z-boson?

A photon is a type of elementary particle that carries electromagnetic energy and has zero rest mass. On the other hand, a Z-boson is a type of elementary particle that carries the weak nuclear force and has a non-zero rest mass.

2. Why is one particle considered massive while the other is massless?

The difference in mass between a photon and a Z-boson is due to their different roles in the universe. Photons are responsible for carrying electromagnetic energy, which is a long-range force, while Z-bosons are responsible for carrying the weak nuclear force, which is a short-range force. This difference in range requires Z-bosons to have mass in order to mediate the weak force effectively.

3. Can a photon be converted into a Z-boson?

No, a photon cannot be converted into a Z-boson. This is because they are fundamentally different particles with different properties, including different masses. In order for a particle to be converted into another, they must have similar properties and characteristics.

4. What is the role of photons and Z-bosons in the Standard Model of particle physics?

Photons and Z-bosons are both fundamental particles that are included in the Standard Model of particle physics. The Standard Model is a theory that explains the fundamental particles and their interactions. Photons are included in the electromagnetic force, while Z-bosons are included in the weak nuclear force.

5. How are photons and Z-bosons related to each other?

Photons and Z-bosons are not related to each other in terms of their properties or interactions. However, they are both bosons, which means they have integer spin. This allows them to carry force and interact with other particles in the universe.

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