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Mathematically, the unification is accomplished under an SU(2) × U(1) gauge group. The corresponding gauge bosons are the photon of electromagnetism and the W and Z bosons of the weak force. In the Standard Model, the weak gauge bosons get their mass from the spontaneous symmetry breaking of the electroweak symmetry from SU(2) × U(1)Y to U(1)em, caused by the Higgs mechanism. The subscripts are used to indicate that these are different copies of U(1); the generator of U(1)em is given by Q = Y/2 + I3, where Y is the generator of U(1)Y (called the hypercharge), and I3 is one of the SU(2) generators (a component of isospin). The distinction between electromagnetism and the weak force arises because there is a (nontrivial) linear combination of Y and I3 that vanishes for the Higgs boson (it is an eigenstate of both Y and I3, so the coefficients may be taken as −I3 and Y): U(1)em is defined to be the group generated by this linear combination, and is unbroken because it doesn't interact with the Higgs.
For contributions to the unification of the weak and electromagnetic interaction between elementary particlesParticle physics is a branch of physics that studies the elementary constituents of matter and radiation, and the interactions between them. It is also called high energy physics because many elementary particles do not occur under normal circumstances in Sheldon GlashowSheldon Lee Glashow (born December 5, 1932) is an American physicist. He helped to develop important theories of electromagnetic and nuclear particle interaction that affected subsequent research on quarks and leptons. In 1979, Glashow shared the Nobel Pr, Abdus SalamAbdus Salam ( January 29, 1926 November 21, 1996) received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979 for his work in electroweak theory, which is the mathematical and conceptual synthesis of the electromagnetic and weak interactions—the latest stage reached unti, and Steven WeinbergSteven Weinberg (born May 3, 1933) is an American physicist. He and his colleagues, Abdus Salam and Sheldon Glashow, formulated the electroweak force theory that combines electromagnetism with the weak force. For this work, the three scientists were award were awarded the Nobel Prize in PhysicsList of Nobel Prize laureates in Physics from 1901 to the present day. 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s External links Official site (source for all citatio in 1979Events January-February January 1 Sino-American relations: United States and the People's Republic of China establish diplomatic relations January 4 State of Ohio agrees to pay $675,000 to families of dead and injured in Kent State University shootings..