W boson (redirected from W and Z bosons)

W boson

n.

An elementary particle that has a mass approximately 160,000 times that of the electron, exists in positively and negatively charged forms, and constitutes the quantum of weak interactions in which the charges of participating particles change. Also called W particle. See Table at subatomic particle.

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W boson

n

(Physics / General Physics) Physics another name for W particle

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W boson

A subatomic particle with positive electric charge that mediates the weak nuclear force. The W boson has a mass 160,000 times that of the electron. Unlike the other weak force mediator (the Z boson), the W boson changes particles it interacts with into other kinds of particles; for example, in beta-plus decay(a kind of beta decay), an up quark in a proton decays into a down quark by emitting a W boson, changing the proton into a neutron. The W boson itself decays into a positron and an electron neutrino. See Table at subatomic particle.