What is the Difference Between W and Z Bosons?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main differences between W and Z bosons are their electric charge, mass, and their roles in weak interactions. Here is a summary of their differences:
- Electric Charge: W bosons have an electric charge, with the W+ boson having a positive charge and the W- boson having a negative charge. On the other hand, Z bosons have no electric charge.
- Mass: W bosons have a mass of about 80 GeV/c², while the Z boson has a mass of about 90 GeV/c².
- Weak Interactions: W bosons are involved in neutrino absorption and emission processes, causing nuclear transmutation. They are verified mediators of these processes. Z bosons, being electrically neutral, do not participate in these processes.
In summary, W bosons have a charge and are involved in weak interactions related to neutrino absorption and emission, while Z bosons are electrically neutral and do not participate in these processes. Both W and Z bosons are vector bosons that mediate the weak interaction, but they have distinct properties and roles.
Comparative Table: W vs Z Bosons
The W and Z bosons are vector bosons that play a crucial role in particle physics. They are collectively known as weak bosons or intermediate vector bosons. Here is a table summarizing the differences between W and Z bosons:
Property | W Bosons | Z Bosons |
---|---|---|
Mass | 80.377±0.012 GeV/c² | 91.1876±0.0021 GeV/c² |
Electric Charge | ±1 e | 0 e |
Weak Isospin | ±1 | 0 |
Weak Hypercharge | 0 | 0 |
Decay Width | 2.085±0.042 GeV | 2.4952±0.0023 GeV |
Spin | 1 ħ | 1 ħ |
The W bosons have a mass of about 80 GeV/c², while the Z boson has a mass of about 90 GeV/c². The W+ boson has a positive electric charge, the W- boson has a negative electric charge, and the Z boson has no electric charge. The W bosons have a magnetic moment, but the Z boson does not. All three of these particles have a spin of 1 and are very short-lived, with a half-life of about 3×10⁻²⁵ s.
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