2006/12/29 by V. V. Flambaum, Victor Flambaum, M. Yu. Kuchiev +1
Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #Atomic physics #Boson #Charge (physics) #Charge density #Condensed matter physics #Coulomb #Electron #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #Physics #Polarization (electrochemistry) #Quadrupole #Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions #Quantum electrodynamics #Quantum mechanics #Sign (mathematics) #Vector boson #Wave vector #hep-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.98.181805
published as Phys.Rev.Lett.98:181805,2007 · 4 pages, revtex
arxiv created 2006/12/29 · openalex publication_date 2007/05/04 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The charge density of vector particles, for example W^\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi, may change sign. The effect manifests itself even for a free propagation, when the energy of the W-boson satisfies \ensuremathε>√(2)m and the standing wave is considered. The charge density of W also changes sign in a vicinity of a Coulomb center. For an arbitrary vector boson (e.g., for spin 1 mesons), this effect depends on the g-factor. An origin of this surprising effect is traced to the electric quadrupole moment and spin-orbit interaction of vector particles; their contributions to the current have a polarization nature. The corresponding charge density equals \ensuremathρPol=\ensuremath-\mathbf\ensuremath∇\ifmmode⋅\else\textperiodcentered\fi\mathbitP, where \mathbitP is an effective polarization vector that depends on the quadrupole moment and spin-orbit interaction. This density oscillates in space, producing zero contribution to the total charge.