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In particle physics, a vector boson is a boson whose spin equals one. Vector bosons that are also elementary particles are gauge bosons, the force carriers of fundamental interactions. Some composite particles are vector bosons, for instance any vector meson (quark and antiquark). During the 1970s and 1980s, intermediate vector bosons (the W and Z bosons, which mediate the weak interaction) drew much attention in particle physics.^[1]^[2]

A pseudovector boson is a vector boson that has even parity, whereas "regular" vector bosons have odd parity. There are no fundamental pseudovector bosons, but there are pseudovector mesons.

In relation to the Higgs boson

Feynman diagram of the fusion of two electroweak vector bosons to the scalar Higgs boson, which is a prominent process of the generation of Higgs bosons at particle accelerators (q : quark particle, W and Z : vector bosons of the electroweak interaction, *H ⁰*: Higgs boson)

The W and Z particles interact with the Higgs boson as shown in the Feynman diagram.^[3]

Explanation

The name vector boson arises from quantum field theory. The component of such a particle's spin along any axis has the three eigenvalues − $ħ$ , 0, and + $ħ$ (where $ħ$ is the reduced Planck constant), meaning that any measurement of its spin can only yield one of these values. (This is true for massive vector bosons; the situation differs for massless particles such as the photon, for reasons beyond the scope of this article. See Wigner's classification.^[4])

The space of spin states therefore is a discrete degree of freedom consisting of three states, the same as the number of components of a vector in three-dimensional space. Quantum superpositions of these states can be taken such that they transform under rotations just like the spatial components of a rotating vector^{[citation needed]} (the so-called 3 representation of SU(2)). If the vector boson is taken to be the quantum of a field, the field is a vector field, hence the name.

The boson part of the name arises from the spin-statistics relation, which requires that all integer spin particles be bosons.

References

^ Barianti, G.; Gabathuler, E. (October 1983). "Intermediate Vector Bosons: Production and Identification at the CERN Proton-Antiproton Collider" (PDF). Europhysics News. pp. 6, 14. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
^ Ellis, John; Gaillard, Mary K.; Girardi, Georges; Sorba, Paul (1982). "Physics of Intermediate Vector Boson". Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science. 32. Annual Reviews: 443–497. Bibcode:1982ARNPS..32..443E. doi:10.1146/annurev.ns.32.120182.002303.
^ "Confirmed! Newfound Particle Is a Higgs Boson". Live Science. 14 March 2013.
^ Weingard, Robert. "Some Comments Regarding Spin and Relativity" (PDF).

[1] Barianti, G.; Gabathuler, E. (October 1983). "Intermediate Vector Bosons: Production and Identification at the CERN Proton-Antiproton Collider" (PDF). Europhysics News. pp. 6, 14. Retrieved June 2, 2021.

[2] Ellis, John; Gaillard, Mary K.; Girardi, Georges; Sorba, Paul (1982). "Physics of Intermediate Vector Boson". Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science. 32. Annual Reviews: 443–497. Bibcode:1982ARNPS..32..443E. doi:10.1146/annurev.ns.32.120182.002303.

[3] "Confirmed! Newfound Particle Is a Higgs Boson". Live Science. 14 March 2013.

[4] Weingard, Robert. "Some Comments Regarding Spin and Relativity" (PDF).

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+{{Short description|Boson with Spin 1}}
-A '''vector boson''' is a [[boson]] with [[spin (physics)|spin]] equal to one unit of <math>\hbar</math> ([[Planck's constant]] divided by <math>2 \pi</math>). In elementary [[particle physics]], the vector bosons currently considered to be [[fundamental particle]]s are all [[gauge boson|gauge bosons]].  The most familiar vector boson is the [[photon]], or [[quantum]] of [[light]], which is a gauge boson. For some time, through the 1970s and 80s, the search for '''intermediate vector bosons''', vector bosons of "intermediate" mass, was a major topic in [[high energy physics]].
+{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}
+In [[particle physics]], a '''vector boson''' is a [[boson]] whose [[Spin (physics)|spin]] equals one. Vector bosons that are also [[elementary particle]]s are [[gauge boson]]s, the [[force carrier]]s of [[fundamental interaction]]s. Some [[composite particle]]s are vector bosons, for instance any [[vector meson]] ([[quark]] and [[antiquark]]). During the 1970s and 1980s, [[intermediate vector boson]]s (the W and Z bosons, which mediate the weak interaction) drew much attention in [[particle physics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europhysicsnews.org/articles/epn/pdf/1983/10/epn19831410p1.pdf|title=Intermediate Vector Bosons: Production and Identification at the CERN Proton-Antiproton Collider|first1=G.|last1=Barianti|first2=E.|last2=Gabathuler|date=October 1983|publisher=Europhysics News|access-date=June 2, 2021|pages=6, 14}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Physics of Intermediate Vector Boson|first1=John|last1=Ellis|first2=Mary K.|last2=Gaillard|first3=Georges|last3=Girardi|first4=Paul|last4=Sorba|journal=Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science|publisher=Annual Reviews|date=1982|volume=32|pages=443–497|doi=10.1146/annurev.ns.32.120182.002303|bibcode=1982ARNPS..32..443E|doi-access=free}}</ref>
+A '''pseudovector boson''' is a vector boson that has even [[Parity (physics)|parity]], whereas "regular" vector bosons have odd parity. There are no fundamental pseudovector bosons, but there are [[pseudovector meson]]s.
-There also exist composite particles that are vector bosons, such as the vector [[meson]]s, made of a [[quark]] and [[antiquark]] with a total [[angular momentum]] of one unit.
+==In relation to the Higgs boson==
+[[Image:BosonFusion-Higgs.svg|thumb|[[Feynman diagram]] of the fusion of two [[electroweak]] vector bosons to the scalar [[Higgs boson]], which is a prominent process of the generation of Higgs bosons at particle accelerators ({{nowrap|{{em|q}}{{hsp}}}}: [[quark]] particle, {{em|W}} and {{nowrap|{{em|Z}}{{hsp}}}}: vector bosons of the [[electroweak interaction]], [[Higgs boson|{{em|{{nowrap|H{{hsp}}<sup>0</sup>}}}}]]: Higgs boson)]]{{np}}
+The [[W and Z bosons|W and Z]] particles interact with the Higgs boson as shown in the [[Feynman diagram]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livescience.com/27888-newfound-particle-is-higgs.html|title=Confirmed! Newfound Particle Is a Higgs Boson|website=[[Live Science]]|date=14 March 2013|publisher=}}</ref>
 ==Explanation==
-The name ''vector boson'' arises from [[quantum field theory]].  The [[spatial vector|component]] of such a particle's spin along any axis will always be measured to have one of ''three'' values: <math>+\hbar</math>, 0, or <math>-\hbar</math> (this is, at least, true for massive vector bosons; the situation is a bit different for massless particles such as the photon, for reasons beyond the scope of this article).  The space of spin states therefore has three degrees of freedom, the same as the number of components of a mathematical [[vector (spatial)|vector]] in [[dimension|three-dimensional]] space.  [[Quantum superposition]]s of these states can be taken such that they transform under [[rotation]]s just like the spatial components of a rotating vector.  If the vector boson is taken to be the [[quantum]] of a field, the field is a [[vector field]], hence the name.
+The name ''vector boson'' arises from [[quantum field theory]]. The [[vector component|component]] of such a particle's spin along any axis has the three [[eigenvalue]]s −{{mvar|ħ}}, 0, and +{{mvar|ħ}} (where {{mvar|ħ}} is the [[reduced Planck constant]]), meaning that any measurement of its spin can only yield one of these values. (This is true for [[rest mass|massive]] vector bosons; the situation differs for [[massless particle]]s such as the photon, for reasons beyond the scope of this article. See [[Wigner's classification]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bjps.oxfordjournals.org/content/40/2/287.full.pdf|title=Some Comments Regarding Spin and Relativity|author=Weingard, Robert|author-link=Robert Weingard}}</ref>)
+The space of spin [[quantum state|states]] therefore is a discrete [[degrees of freedom (physics and chemistry)|degree of freedom]] consisting of three states, the same as the number of components of a [[Euclidean vector|vector]] in three-dimensional space. [[Quantum superposition]]s of these states can be taken such that they transform under [[rotation formalisms in three dimensions|rotations]] just like the spatial components of a rotating vector{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} (the so-called [[representation theory of SU(2)|'''3''' representation of SU(2)]]). If the vector boson is taken to be the [[quantum]] of a field, the field is a [[vector field]], hence the name.
+The ''boson'' part of the name arises from the [[spin-statistics relation]], which requires that all integer spin particles be bosons.
 ==See also==
-*[[Scalar boson]]
+* [[Scalar boson]]
+* [[Maxwell's equations]]
+* [[Proca action]]
+==References==
+{{reflist|25em}}
+{{Particles}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Vector Boson}}
 [[Category:Bosons]]
 [[Category:Mesons]]
-[[Category:Quantum field theory]]
+[[Category:Gauge theories]]
+[[Category:Particle physics]]
+[[Category:Subatomic particles with spin 1| ]]
-{{particle-stub}}
-[[es:Bosón de vector]]
-[[ru:Векторный бозон]]