Introduction to gauge theories of electroweak interactions

Intended as a lecture for physicists who are not familiar with the sophisticated theoretical models in particle physics. Starting with the standard gauge model of electromagnetic, weak and strong interactions the recent developments of a unified gauge theory of electroweak interactions are shown. Shortcomings in the unitarity problem of the V-A fermi theory of charged intermediate vector bosons. Presented are the spontaneous symmetry breaking in quantum mechanics, the abelian higgs model as an example of a spontaneously broken gauge field theory, the minimal gauge group of electroweak interactions, the fermion mass generation. Further on the anomalies in quantum field theory are discussed and the radiative corrections to the vector boson masses are considered. (H.B.)