Editing Effective field theory (section)

===Fermi theory of beta decay===
The best-known example of an effective field theory is the [[Fermi's interaction|Fermi theory of beta decay]]. This theory was developed during the early study of weak decays of [[Atomic nucleus|nuclei]] when only the [[hadron]]s and [[lepton]]s undergoing weak decay were known. The typical [[elementary particle reaction|reactions]] studied were:

::<math>
\begin{align}
n & \to p+e^-+\overline\nu_e \\
\mu^- & \to e^-+\overline\nu_e+\nu_\mu.
\end{align}
</math>

This theory posited a pointlike interaction between the four [[fermion]]s involved in these reactions. The theory had great [[phenomenology (particle physics)|phenomenological]] success and was eventually understood to arise from the [[gauge theory]] of [[electroweak interaction]]s, which forms a part of the [[standard model]] of particle physics. In this more fundamental theory, the interactions are mediated by a [[flavour (particle physics)|flavour]]-changing [[gauge boson]], the W<sup>±</sup>. The immense success of the Fermi theory was because the W particle has mass of about 80 [[GeV]], whereas the early experiments were all done at an energy scale of less than 10 [[MeV]]. Such a separation of scales, by over 3 orders of magnitude, has not been met in any other situation as yet.