On the Gauge Invariance of the Z-Boson Mass

Abstract

The different schemes for the definition of the Z boson mass are analyzed. It is shown that the scheme, defining the mass as pole of the real part of the Z boson propagator and the width as the imaginary part of the propagator at the same point results in the gauge dependent results for these parameters in a two-loop approximation. On the other hand, the scheme, where the mass and width are related to the position of the pole of the propagator in the complex plane leads to the gauge independent result. It is argued that the gauge dependence of mass and width does not contradicts to the gauge invariance of the amplitude.