Wolfenstein parameterization

E815595

The Wolfenstein parameterization is an approximate, phenomenological way of expressing the CKM quark-mixing matrix in terms of a small expansion parameter λ and a few additional real parameters that capture the hierarchy of quark flavor-changing transitions.

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Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf CKM matrix parameterization
phenomenological model
appliesTo three-generation quark sector
approximate yes
approximationOrder often truncated at O(λ³)
assumes three real parameters and one complex phase encoded in A, ρ, η
|λ| ≪ 1
captures CP-violating phase via η
hierarchy of CKM matrix elements
strength of 2–3 mixing via A
structure of 1–3 mixing via ρ and η
characterizes quark flavor-changing transitions
context charged-current weak interactions
describes Cabibbo–Kobayashi–Maskawa matrix NERFINISHED
expansionIn small parameter λ
field flavor physics
particle physics
goal make CKM hierarchy manifest
hasRefinement Buras parameterization NERFINISHED
higher-order Wolfenstein-like expansions
introducedInContextOf Standard Model of particle physics NERFINISHED
matrixElementForm V_cb ≈ A λ²
V_tb ≈ 1
V_td ≈ A λ³ (1 − ρ − i η)
V_ub ≈ A λ³ (ρ − i η)
V_ud ≈ 1 − λ²/2
V_us ≈ λ
namedAfter Lincoln Wolfenstein NERFINISHED
property unitarity satisfied order by order in λ
relatedConcept CKM unitarity
unitarity triangle
relatedTo standard PDG parameterization of CKM matrix
relatesTo Cabibbo angle NERFINISHED
representationType power series in λ
usedBy high-energy physics community
usedFor approximate expressions for CKM elements
flavor-changing weak interactions
phenomenological analysis of CP violation
usedIn B-meson phenomenology
K-meson phenomenology
global fits of CKM parameters
usesParameter A
η
λ
ρ
validWhen λ is numerically small (≈0.22)

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Cabibbo–Kobayashi–Maskawa matrix hasParameterization Wolfenstein parameterization