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----------------- 1799 - Primer on Particle Physics.-
- One problem with this review on particle physics is it requires so many definitions of new terms. We need a whole new vocabulary to understand what goes on in the micro world too small to see, but not too small to imagine.
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- The irony of this complexity is that it is actually a simplification down to the fundamentals of nature. We can learn a “ few things” than make up “ everything else”.
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- So let’s dive in and reduce our complex Universe into a few simple models. First is “Matter“. Supposedly matter is made of indivisible particles that can not be broken down any further. We call these particles , Quarks and Leptons.
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- Quarks are what makes protons and neutrons which occupy the nucleus of all atoms.
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- Leptons are electrons and neutrinos. Electrons occupy the energy levels around the nucleus of all atoms.
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- If you mix these two up in various combinations you can form all the different atoms. You can create all the elements in existence. You can form the Periodic Table of Elements.
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- That takes care of “ matter”.
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- Now there are 4 forces that hold matter together. The Strong and the Weak forces hold all the atomic nuclei together. And, Gravity and the Electromagnetic Forces hold the atoms and molecules together. These forces work by exchanging “ virtual “ particles called “ Bosons”. Each Boson has been discovered except for the exchange particle creating the force of Gravity. This force component is the weakest and its fundamental make up still elude us. If we find it , it will called the “ Graviton”.
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- Today the Quarks and Leptons are viewed as indivisible. But, that may not be the case. Perhaps these two are made up of even smaller, more fundamental particles?
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- Protons and neutrons consist of 2 types of Quarks. “Up-Quarks” that carry a +2/3 positive electric charge and “Down-Quarks” that carry a -1/3 negative electric charge.
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- Both of these particles have heavier, or higher energy, particles that exist but only for fractions of a second before decaying back in to the 2 lightest, or lower energy particles , the Up and Down Quarks.
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----------------- Up Quark ---- Charm Quark ------- Top Quark
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---------------- Down Quark ------ Strange Quark ------- Bottom Quark
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- The electron too has heavier, or higher energy versions of itself that also carry the negative charge.
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---------------- Electron ------- Muon -------- Tau
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- The same for the Neutrino:
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----------------- Electron Neutrino ----- Muon Neutrino ------ Tau Neutrino
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- Neutrinos are super lightweight and electrically neutral.
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- The “Higgs Particle” is a recent addition to this list of “ fundamental particles”. It is the “Higgs Field” that is the source giving mass to all the other fundamental particles. Massive particles experience a different level of “drag” as the move through the ubiquitous Higgs Field. Massless particles like the “Photon” experience no interaction with the Higgs Field and therefore have zero mass.
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- We have no mathematical model that can predict the mass of these fundamental particles. So far, we only have their masses determined my measuring them.
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- These are very difficult measurements. Protons and Neutrons have a radius of
10^-15meters. Quarks must be 0.0002 to 0.0010 times the size of a proton. (10^-18 meters)
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- Another measurement technique involves the “ spin” of all Fermions. Fermions are what Quarks and Leptons are called taken together and compared to “Bosons“ which are force particles.. For example, the electron is defined as having a spin of “ ½ “.The combination of spin and electric charge gives the electron a magnetic moment. If some deviations in magnetic moments can be measured between Electrons and Muons that might lead to discovery of more fundamental particles.
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- The hope of physics is that new discoveries will emerge as the CERN particle accelerator begins operating this year at 14 Tera Electronvolts. Also Fermelab accelerators have improved precision in measuring the magnetic moments of Electrons and Muons. A breakthrough is sure to come from these experiments. The quantum frontier is on the verge of breakthroughs. Stay-tuned there is much more to learn.
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