Universal Weak Boson and Fermion Interaction

A modified interpretation of an idea of divergenceless currents due to Feynman and Gell-Mann is investigated in detail, in which some pairs of bosons (pions and $K$ mesons) are assumed to exist, besides fermion pairs, among members exerting a universal weak interaction. In particular, we propose a pair consisting of a neutral $K$ meson and a charged pion, in addition to a pion pair and pairs of leptons, nucleons, and some hyperons. Strong evidence for this pion-$K$-meson pair is provided by its surprising fit to short-lived decay of neutral $K$ mesons. An essential presumption is here that pion-muon decay is consistent with the present scheme; its ratio to pion-electron decay is left unchanged. If we further assume a global symmetry of pion coupling to hyperons, and the $K$-meson interaction is simply assumed as comparatively weaker, then our present scheme seems consistent with all known data on decays of strange particles as far as reliable estimation could be made. A complete scheme of universal weak interaction is not obtained uniquely, since we have no particular necessity for nor objction to some pairs of particles, from available theoretical and experimental information. Some decay modes which are yet unobserved but are expected according to the present scheme are summarized in the final section.