Fermi theory of beta decay
E88964
The Fermi theory of beta decay is Enrico Fermi’s pioneering quantum field theory model that explains beta decay as a weak interaction process mediated by a four-fermion contact interaction, laying the groundwork for modern weak interaction theory.
All labels observed (7)
How this entity was disambiguated
This entity first appeared as the object of triple T748444 — resolving that mention is where its identity was fixed. The disambiguator weighed these candidate entities and picked the highlighted one (or “None”, minting a new entity). This is how homonymy is resolved: the same surface form can point to different entities.
NED1
Entity disambiguation (via context triple)
gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07
Target entity: Fermi theory of beta decay Context triple: [Enrico Fermi, knownFor, Fermi theory of beta decay]
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A.
Bethe–Feynman formula for nuclear explosions
The Bethe–Feynman formula for nuclear explosions is a theoretical expression developed by Hans Bethe and Richard Feynman that estimates the energy yield and behavior of nuclear detonations based on fundamental physical parameters of the device.
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B.
On a Heuristic Point of View Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light
"On a Heuristic Point of View Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light" is Albert Einstein’s 1905 paper that introduced the concept of light quanta (photons), laying the foundation for quantum theory and explaining the photoelectric effect.
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C.
Bethe–Salpeter equation
The Bethe–Salpeter equation is a relativistic quantum field theory equation that describes bound states of two interacting particles, such as electron–hole pairs in quantum electrodynamics.
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D.
Bethe formula for stopping power
The Bethe formula for stopping power is a fundamental equation in particle physics that quantifies the energy loss of fast charged particles as they pass through matter.
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E.
Dyson’s proof of equivalence of Feynman and Schwinger–Tomonaga formulations of QED
Dyson’s proof of equivalence of Feynman and Schwinger–Tomonaga formulations of QED is a landmark theoretical result that rigorously demonstrated the mathematical consistency and mutual compatibility of different approaches to quantum electrodynamics.
- F. None of above. chosen
- G. Unsure - the case is ambiguous/there is not enough information to decide.
NED2
Entity disambiguation (via description)
gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07
Target entity: Fermi theory of beta decay Target entity description: The Fermi theory of beta decay is Enrico Fermi’s pioneering quantum field theory model that explains beta decay as a weak interaction process mediated by a four-fermion contact interaction, laying the groundwork for modern weak interaction theory.
-
A.
Bethe–Feynman formula for nuclear explosions
The Bethe–Feynman formula for nuclear explosions is a theoretical expression developed by Hans Bethe and Richard Feynman that estimates the energy yield and behavior of nuclear detonations based on fundamental physical parameters of the device.
-
B.
On a Heuristic Point of View Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light
"On a Heuristic Point of View Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light" is Albert Einstein’s 1905 paper that introduced the concept of light quanta (photons), laying the foundation for quantum theory and explaining the photoelectric effect.
-
C.
Bethe–Salpeter equation
The Bethe–Salpeter equation is a relativistic quantum field theory equation that describes bound states of two interacting particles, such as electron–hole pairs in quantum electrodynamics.
-
D.
Bethe formula for stopping power
The Bethe formula for stopping power is a fundamental equation in particle physics that quantifies the energy loss of fast charged particles as they pass through matter.
-
E.
Dyson’s proof of equivalence of Feynman and Schwinger–Tomonaga formulations of QED
Dyson’s proof of equivalence of Feynman and Schwinger–Tomonaga formulations of QED is a landmark theoretical result that rigorously demonstrated the mathematical consistency and mutual compatibility of different approaches to quantum electrodynamics.
- F. None of above. chosen
Statements (44)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
effective field theory
ⓘ
physical theory ⓘ quantum field theory ⓘ theory of weak interaction ⓘ |
| appliesTo |
neutron beta decay
ⓘ
nuclear beta decay ⓘ |
| approximates | low-energy limit of weak interaction ⓘ |
| assumes |
energy and momentum conservation
ⓘ
lepton number conservation ⓘ neutrino emission in beta decay ⓘ point-like weak interaction ⓘ |
| breaksDownAt | high energies ⓘ |
| describes | beta decay ⓘ |
| developer | Enrico Fermi ⓘ |
| explains |
continuous beta spectrum
ⓘ
existence of neutrino in beta decay ⓘ |
| field |
nuclear physics
ⓘ
particle physics ⓘ theoretical physics ⓘ |
| framework | quantum field theory ⓘ |
| historicalPrecursorOf |
Salam–Weinberg model
ⓘ
surface form:
Standard Model weak interaction
Salam–Weinberg model ⓘ
surface form:
electroweak theory
|
| historicalSignificance |
first quantitative theory of beta decay
ⓘ
foundation of modern weak interaction theory ⓘ |
| inspired | development of current–current weak interaction models ⓘ |
| interactionForm | contact interaction ⓘ |
| interactionRange | short-range ⓘ |
| interactionType |
four-fermion interaction
ⓘ
weak interaction ⓘ |
| introducesConcept |
Fermi constant
ⓘ
surface form:
Fermi coupling constant
|
| LagrangianContains | four-fermion current–current term ⓘ |
| laterExtendedTo | V–A theory ⓘ |
| originallyAssumed | vector current ⓘ |
| predicts |
beta decay rate
ⓘ
electron energy spectrum in beta decay ⓘ selection rules for beta decay ⓘ |
| relatedTo |
Fermi constant
ⓘ
Gamow–Teller theory ⓘ Fermi theory of beta decay self-linksurface differs ⓘ
surface form:
V–A theory of weak interaction
|
| symbolOfCoupling | G_F ⓘ |
| uses | Dirac fields for nucleons and leptons ⓘ |
| validAt | energies much lower than W boson mass ⓘ |
| yearProposed | 1933 ⓘ |
| yearPublished | 1934 ⓘ |
How these facts were elicited
The pipeline generated the facts above by prompting gpt-5.1 with this entity's name + description and the instruction below.
Instruction
You are a knowledge base construction expert. Given a subject entity and a description of it, return factual statements that you know for the subject as a JSON list of dictionaries(triples), where keys must be "subject", "predicate" and "object". The number of facts may be very high, between 25 to 50 or more, for very popular subjects. For less popular subjects, the number of facts can be very low, like 5 or 10. # Requirements - If you don't know the subject at all, return an empty list. - If the subject is not a named entity, return an empty list. - Include at least one triple where predicate is "instanceOf". - Do not get too wordy. - Separate several objects into multiple triples with one object.
Input
Subject: Fermi theory of beta decay Description of subject: The Fermi theory of beta decay is Enrico Fermi’s pioneering quantum field theory model that explains beta decay as a weak interaction process mediated by a four-fermion contact interaction, laying the groundwork for modern weak interaction theory.
Referenced by (12)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
subject surface form:
Enrico Fermi
this entity surface form:
V–A theory of weak interaction
this entity surface form:
low-energy effective weak interaction Lagrangian
this entity surface form:
Fermi’s beta decay Hamiltonian
this entity surface form:
Fermi’s beta decay theory
this entity surface form:
Fermi’s four-fermion interaction
this entity surface form:
V–A theory of weak interactions