Theory lecture 10

4 Maio 2022, 08:30 João Nuno Ramalho Gonçalves Pires

  • Introduction to the gauge theory of the weak interaction
  • Experimental observation of parity violation in nuclear beta decay
  • The parity violating vector - axial (V-A) Lorentz invariant weak charged current
  • Chirality decomposition of Dirac spinors and the chiral structure of the weak interaction
  • The W vertex coupling to left chiral particle states and right chiral antiparticle states
  • The W-boson massive spin 1 propagator
  • Fermi theory and the strength of the weak interaction coupling constant
  • Helicity in pion decay: The pion to electron/anti-neutrino and muon/anti-neutrino branching ratio decay in the context of the V-A weak vertex
  • Experimental evidence for the lepton Universality coupling strength in the weak charged W current
Recommended reading: chapter 11 and 6.4 of Mark Thomson's book and chapter's 10.1 to 10.4 of D.Griffith's book.