Weak neutral currents
Corrientes neutras débiles
- Date
- 1973 · confidence high
- Place
- CERN, Geneva, Switzerland (Gargamelle bubble chamber)
- Credited to
- Gargamelle Collaboration (CERN); André Lagarrigue; Paul Musset
- People
- 👤 André Lagarrigue1924–1975👤 Paul Musset1933–1985
- Field
- Cosmos & Earth
What was discovered
In the Gargamelle bubble chamber, neutrinos are observed scattering electrons and nuclei without turning into muons: the exchange of a neutral Z boson. The first confirmation of electroweak theory and of the Higgs mechanism as a real structure.
The result was cast into doubt by a contradictory measurement from Fermilab that was later corrected ('alternating neutral currents').
What it led to
- Search for and discovery of the W and Z bosons
- Acceptance of the standard model
- Design of the SPS as a collider
- Electroweak precision physics (LEP)
Built on
- Electroweak unification1961-1968
- Electroweak theory
- CERN PS neutrino beam
- 't Hooft's proof of renormalisability
Made possible
- W and Z bosons1983
- Large-volume bubble chambers
- Neutrino beams