Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-particle-and-nuclear-physics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2017/1/c/solution
Past exam of the particle and nuclear physics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 1 c Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
For negligible final fermion masses, the chiral Z-boson partial width is proportional to . Both channels have one color state. An Electron has , and , givingFor one active neutrino species, , and there is no coupled right-handed neutrino field, so , . The common coupling normalization and phase space cancel in the ratio:The same total decay width appears in the two branching fractions, soThere is no factor of three for a single specified flavour. Summing three active neutrino flavours would give an invisible branching fraction of approximately in this approximation.
New to topics? Read the docs here!