title: The z boson.
abstract: The discovery of the Z boson 7 years ago verified a key prediction of the unified theory of electromagnetic and weak forces. Today an experimental program is beginning at two electron-positron colliders to study the properties of the Z particle in great detail. The data accumulated will subject the unified theory to more rigorous tests and will probe with great sensitivity for new physics not encompassed by the existing standard model of the elementary particles and forces. Questions under study include the number of quark and lepton families, the mass of the still undiscovered top quark, and the search for the still unknown fifth force of nature required by the theory to generate the masses of the elementary particles.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chanowitz