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Time Asymmetric Quantum Theory and the Z‐boson Mass and Width
Author(s) -
Bohm Arno R.,
Kielanowski Piotr
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
fortschritte der physik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.469
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1521-3978
pISSN - 0015-8208
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3978(200205)50:5/7<496::aid-prop496>3.0.co;2-w
Subject(s) - physics , causality (physics) , semigroup , propagator , resonance (particle physics) , boson , asymmetry , representation (politics) , quantum mechanics , square (algebra) , scattering amplitude , mathematical physics , quantum electrodynamics , scattering , mathematics , mathematical analysis , geometry , politics , political science , law
A unified theory of resonance and decay phenomena is presented for the non‐relativistic and the relativistic cases. It incorporates causality and time asymmetry. The relativistic quasistable particles are described by semigroup representations of the causal Poincaré transformations characterized by spin j and complex square mass s R = ( M R — iΓ R /2) 2 , where Γ R is the width of a relativistic Breit‐Wigner scattering amplitude. The lifetime of the exponentially decaying state described by this semigroup representation [ j , s R ] is derived as τ = ␣/ Γ R . This provides a criterion for the appropriate definition of the mass and width of a relativistic resonance.