The Salam-Weinberg model of weak interactions and stellar energy loss rates by neutrino processes

Abstract

The energy loss mechanism from stellar bodies through neutrino processes has been discussed in the framework of the Salam-Weinberg unified symmetric model of weak and electromagnetic interactions. As a test of the model the effect of neutral currents in vv pair production are considered for the process y+p to p+v+v; it is shown that although the cross section for this process at high energies (total centre of mass energy >2 BeV) is dependent on the structure of the vertices (p' mod J_mu ^Zmod p) and (p' mod J_mu ^Amod p), where J_mu^Z and J_mu^A are the weak neutral and electromagnetic currents respectively, the energy loss rate is not governed by them.