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Can Z bosons mediate short-range forces between electrons?

Physics Asked on December 3, 2020

The flavor quantum numbers and charge of Z bosons should allow it to mediate between electrons without violating any conservation rules. So at very short displacement scales do electrons actually attract each other through mediating Z bosons?

Thank you guys

2 Answers

Yes, $Z$ bosons can mediate electron-electron scattering $e e rightarrow e e$, and electron-positron pair production $Zrightarrow e^+ e^-$.

As to whether the force is repulsive or attractive, see this answer.

Correct answer by SuperCiocia on December 3, 2020

SLAC E158 measured parity violation in polarized Møller scattering ($vec e^-e^-rightarrow e^-e^-$). The beam electron is longitudinally polarized. The 1st order diagrams include t and u channel photon exchange and Z$^0$ exchange. Their interference is parity violating, leading to a left/right asymmetry in the scattering cross section.

Note that this scattering is far off the Z-pole; likewise, parity violation in atomic cesium ($Q_W$) is sensitive to Z exchange in an atom, so the "very short displacement scales" is not necessary.

Answered by JEB on December 3, 2020

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