Spin zero exchange model of weak interactions

Abstract

A renormalizable model in which weak interactions are mediated by spin- zero exchange rather than by spin-one exchange is studied. The lowest order diagrams for $mu$ and $beta$ decay are box diagrams. Neutrino cross sections of leptons and hadrons are calculated for the effective charged and neutral currents of the model. Weak corrections to e$sup +$e$sup -$ $Yields$ $mu$$sup +$$mu$$sup - $ and higher order contributions to $mu$ decay are also calculated. Neutral current effects are predicted to be small for neutrinos on lepton targets and large for e$sup +$e$sup -$ $Yields$ $mu$$sup +$$mu$$sup -$; their strength is fixed by $nu$-hadron scattering. In particular, there is a sizeable suppression of $nu$/sub $mu$/e scattering and a large enhancement of the asymmetry in e$sup +$e$sup -$ $Yields$ $mu$$sup +$$mu$$sup -$. The only troublesome prediction is a parameter-free value of one for the ratio sigma($nu$/sub $mu$/ + N $Yields$ $nu$/ sub $mu$/ + X)/sigma(anti$nu$/sub $mu$/ + N $Yields$ anti$nu$/sub $mu$/ + X). On the whole, however, the model provides a sensible, renormalizable alternative to the gauge theories. (auth)