Weak interaction

The radioactive beta decay is due to the weak interaction, which transforms a neutron into a proton, an electron, and an electron antineutrino.
Standard Model of particle physics
Up quarkCharm quarkTop quarkGluonHiggs bosonDown quarkStrange quarkBottom quarkPhotonElectronMuonTau (particle)W and Z bosons#Z bosons}Z bosonElectron neutrinoMuon neutrinoTau neutrinoW and Z bosonsStandard ModelFermionBosonQuarkLeptonScalar bosonGauge bosonVector boson
Elementary particles of the Standard Model
Background
Particle physics
Standard Model
Quantum field theory
Gauge theory
Spontaneous symmetry breaking
Higgs mechanism
Constituents
Electroweak interaction
Quantum chromodynamics
CKM matrix
Standard Model mathematics
Limitations
Strong CP problem
Hierarchy problem
Neutrino oscillations
Physics beyond the Standard Model
Scientists

In nuclear physics and particle physics, the weak interaction, also called the weak force, is one of the four known fundamental interactions, with the others being electromagnetism, the strong interaction, and gravitation. It 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 nuclear fusion. The theory describing its behaviour and effects is sometimes called quantum flavordynamics (QFD); however, the term QFD is rarely used, because the weak force is better understood by electroweak theory (EWT).[1]

The effective range of the weak force is limited to subatomic distances and is less than the diameter of a proton.[2]

  1. ^ Griffiths, David (2009). Introduction to Elementary Particles. pp. 59–60. ISBN 978-3-527-40601-2.
  2. ^ Schwinger, Julian (1 November 1957). "A theory of the fundamental interactions". Annals of Physics. 2 (5): 407–434. Bibcode:1957AnPhy...2..407S. doi:10.1016/0003-4916(57)90015-5. ISSN 0003-4916.