What is Weak interaction: Definition and 60 Discussions

In nuclear physics and particle physics, the weak interaction, which is also often called the weak force or weak nuclear force, is the mechanism of interaction between subatomic particles that is responsible for the radioactive decay of atoms. The weak interaction participates in nuclear fission, and the theory describing its behaviour and effects is sometimes called quantum flavourdynamics (QFD). However, the term QFD is rarely used, because the weak force is better understood by electroweak theory (EWT).The effective range of the weak force is limited to subatomic distances, and is less than the diameter of a proton. It is one of the four known force-related fundamental interactions of nature, alongside the strong interaction, electromagnetism, and gravitation.

View More On Wikipedia.org
Recent contents Top users
  1. michael879

    Exploring the Weak Interaction: Is it a Force?

    weak "force" this is really just a question about terminology, so I am not expecting any overly complex answers. I am familiar with the weak interaction, but in what sense is this a force? It is unlike anything that we would consider a force.. The only sense in which I can see it being...
  2. G

    Electromagnetic and weak interaction unification

    Hi: The electromagnetic and weak interactions were unified in what is called the electroweak interaction, but as long as I know they are different classes of interactions, what I mean is that in weak interactions, there are particles that transform in others (like neutron's beta...
  3. L

    Weak Interaction Invariance Under CPT Symmetry

    Is weak interaction invaraint under CPT Symmetry? Why?
  4. H

    Weak interaction - conservation laws

    Hi, i just need to get together all the conservations/violations that the weak interaction conserves/violates. I know about parity, charge conjugation and basic properties such as charge and lepton number but i was wandering if anybody could think of any more. No mathematics please! Thanks.
  5. S

    Weak Interaction: e+e- to Mu+Mu- | Probability & Exceptions

    e^+ e^- \rightarrow \mu^+ \mu^- The reaction above can take place in two different ways: 1) The electromagnetic interaction by exchanging a \gamma 2) The weak interaction by exchanging a Z^0 Can somebody explain which way is more probable and why. I'm not sure but I guess that the...
  6. O

    Weak interaction cross-section

    Homework Statement Cross-sections for weak interactions at an energy E increase with E as E^2. Show that the rate of weak interactions in the early universe depends on the temperature T as \sigma_{wk} \propto T^52. The attempt at a solution The only formula I can find is \sigma_{wk} = g_{wk}^2...
  7. S

    Weak interaction - half-lifetime of a decay

    Hello! I need help with an exercise about the weak interaction: How do the mass, the q-value and the vertices depend on the half-lifetime of a decay? The myon decay has a half-lifetime of 0.0000015 seconds, the neutron decay has a half-lifetime of 607 seconds. Why is there such a big...
  8. M

    Higher-order weak interaction decays

    Considering the decay of certain exotic mesons, such as the following: B^{+} --> D^{0} \pi^{+} Apparently the decay proceeds via a weak interaction where multiple W boson exchanges occur. I was trying to nut out how this actually occurs, and draw up a sensible Feynman diagram...
  9. R

    Pion decay via the weak interaction

    Hi, i have a particle physics exam in 2 days and am confused on pion decay via the weak interaction, namely: pi[-] ->muon + anti-muno neutrino Thankyou Ray Veldkamp
  10. M

    The weak interaction and fusion?

    I've heard that the weak interaction actually governs fusion between hydrogen especially in the sun, how does this actually works?
Back
Top