Weak Isospin - Weak Isospin and The W Bosons

Weak Isospin and The W Bosons

The symmetry associated with spin is SU(2). This requires gauge bosons to transform between weak isospin charges: bosons W+, W− and W0. This implies that W bosons have a T = 1, with three different values of T₃.

• W+ boson (T₃ = +1) is emitted in transitions {(T₃ = +1⁄₂) → (T₃ = −1⁄₂)},
• W− boson (T₃ = −1) is emitted in transitions {(T₃ = −1⁄₂) → (T₃ = +1⁄₂)}.
• W0 boson (T₃ = 0) would be emitted in reactions where T₃ does not change. However, under electroweak unification, the W0 boson mixes with the weak hypercharge gauge boson B, resulting in the observed Z0 boson and the photon of Quantum Electrodynamics.