Weak nuclear interaction

The weak nuclear force is responsible for the radioactive decay of atoms. It plays an essential role in nuclear fission. The theory that describes the weak nuclear force is sometimes called Quantum flavordynamics. However, it is better understood in terms of the Electroweak theory. 

The range of the weak nuclear force is less than the diameter of the proton. It is one of the four fundamental interactions of nature, alongside, gravity, electromagnetism and the strong nuclear force.

In the weak interaction, fermions can exchange one of three kinds of gauge bosons: W+, W- and Z bosons. The W+ or W- either have a positive or negative electric charge. They are also each other's antiparticle. The Z boson is electrically neutral and is its own antiparticle. The three particles all have a spin of 1. The W boson has a magnetic moment while the Z boson does not. All three of these particles are very short lived. They have a half-life of 3 x 10^-25 s.

The W bosons are named after the weak force. Stephen Weinberg is credited as having named the Z particle, since it is the last additional particle needed by the model. It also has zero electric charge.