Gauge boson

A gauge boson is an elementary particle associated with a gauge symmetry and mediates a fundamental interaction. The photon, W and Z bosons, and gluons are examples.

Gauge symmetry: A symmetry in which field descriptions can change independently at each point in spacetime without changing observable physics. Gauge bosons arise when local symmetries are built into a physical theory.
Gauge field: A field that transforms under a gauge symmetry and carries the structure of a gauge interaction. Quantizing a gauge field produces its corresponding gauge bosons.
Graviton: A hypothetical quantum particle proposed as the mediator of gravity. Unlike the Standard Model gauge bosons, it has not been observed and gravity lacks an established quantum field theory.
Quantum electrodynamics: The quantum field theory of electrically charged particles and the electromagnetic field. Its photon-mediated interactions predict electromagnetic phenomena with exceptional precision.
Quantum field theory: A framework describing particles as quantized excitations of fields that extend through spacetime. Gauge bosons are field excitations in the quantum theories of fundamental interactions.
Photon: The massless spin-one quantum of the electromagnetic field. It mediates electromagnetism and is the simplest familiar gauge boson.
Scalar boson: A boson with spin zero, such as the Higgs boson. Gauge bosons have spin one, whereas the Higgs boson is a scalar and does not mediate a gauge force.
Electroweak interaction: The unified gauge theory of electromagnetism and the weak interaction. Its symmetry breaking yields a massless photon and massive W and Z bosons.
Boson: A particle with integer spin that can share a quantum state with other identical particles. Gauge bosons belong to this particle-statistics family, unlike matter fermions.
W and Z bosons: Massive spin-one particles that mediate the weak interaction. Their large masses make the weak interaction short-ranged.

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