Z boson
Britishnoun
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An electrically neutral subatomic particle that mediates the weak nuclear force. The Z boson has a mass 182,000 times that of the electron. Unlike the other weak force mediator (the W boson), it does not change particles it interacts with into other types of particles. Like the photon, the Z boson is its own antiparticle.
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See Table at subatomic particle
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The quark can disturb the plasma and produce a wake, while the Z boson should pass through without significantly affecting the material around it.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026
When such a collision occurs, the quark and Z boson should fly away from each other in opposite directions.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026
For example, the exchanged photon can morph into an electron-positron pair and back into a photon, or one electron can emit and reabsorb a particle called a Z boson.
From Science Magazine ● Nov. 30, 2022
A different type of particle smasher, called an electron-positron collider, should produce only a Higgs and another particle called a Z boson.
From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2018
Its identity is not yet known, but candidates include a heavier type of Z boson — a Zʹ— or a ‘leptoquark’.
From Nature ● Jun. 6, 2017
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