Weak + and - and Z neutral, free neutron, etc.

In summary, beta decay involves a down quark turning into an up quark, resulting in the emission of a W- boson and the creation of an electron and an anti-neutrino. The W- boson does not stay in the nucleus, but rather decays into the electron and anti-neutrino. The Z neutral boson works by interacting between particles such as neutrons and electrons or protons and neutrons, but further research is needed to fully understand this process. In beta decay, there is also an anti-neutrino and the opposite process is called inverse beta decay. The proper way to write anti-particles is by adding a bar above the symbol, such as anti-neutrino or anti-quark.
  • #1
WilliamJ
13
0
With beta decay a down quark turns into a up quark + W- results in e- and (anti-neutrino) and up quark turns into a down quark + W+ produces e+ + (neutrino), does the W- and W+ get emitted and then turn into e- + (anti-neutrino) or e+ + (neutrino) or do they stay in the nucleus? How does the Z neutral boson work? I have heard that it interacts between the neutron and the electron or both proton and neutron interact with the electrons by the Z neutral boson, how does this work? Also with the beta decay, there is an anti-neutrino (is it an anti-electron-neutrino) and the opposite (what is the opposite of the beta decay called?), is it an electron neutrino or positron neutrino? Also how do you write anti-neutrino or anti-electron neutrino or anti-quark or anti-lepton in the proper way?
I also have another question and that is that I have heard that a free neutron will decay into a proton, electron (and possibly a neutrino?), is this true or not, and if it is not true then how does this work?
 
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  • #2
WilliamJ said:
With beta decay a down quark turns into a up quark + W- results in e- and (anti-neutrino)

I also have another question and that is that I have heard that a free neutron will decay into a proton, electron (and possibly a neutrino?), is this true or not, and if it is not true then how does this work?

You just said it. Neutron contains two down quarks and one up quark, proton has two up quarks and one down quark.
Proton: uud
Neutron: udd

The reaction looks like this:

udd -> uud + W- -> uud + e + anti-neutrino
 

Related to Weak + and - and Z neutral, free neutron, etc.

1. What is the difference between weak + and - particles?

Weak + and - particles, also known as W+ and W- bosons, are both carriers of the weak nuclear force. The main difference between them is their electric charge - W+ has a positive charge while W- has a negative charge.

2. What is the role of Z neutral particles?

Z neutral particles, also known as Z bosons, are responsible for mediating the weak nuclear force and maintaining the stability of atoms. They are also involved in certain types of radioactive decay.

3. How is a free neutron different from a bound neutron?

A free neutron is an unbound neutron that exists outside of an atomic nucleus. It has a half-life of about 15 minutes before it decays into a proton, electron, and electron antineutrino. In contrast, a bound neutron is part of an atomic nucleus and is much more stable.

4. What is the significance of the weak nuclear force?

The weak nuclear force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature, along with gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong nuclear force. It is responsible for radioactive decay, which plays a crucial role in the natural processes of the universe.

5. Can weak interactions occur between different types of particles?

Yes, weak interactions can occur between different types of particles, including quarks, leptons, and bosons. This is because the weak nuclear force is not affected by the electric charge of particles, unlike the electromagnetic force. However, weak interactions are more likely to occur between particles of the same type.

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