While some particles in the standard model seem unnecessary for visible matter, they are essential for the mathematical and physical stability of the universe.
Key facts
- •Visible matter is primarily composed of electrons, up quarks, and down quarks.
- •The muon is over 200 times more massive than the electron, while the tauon is more than 3400 times more massive.
- •Weak nuclear interactions involve the W+, W-, and Z bosons and emit electron neutrinos.
- •The LHCb experiment investigates bottom and charm quarks to understand the imbalance between matter and antimatter.
- •The 'charmed proton' discovered by LHCb researchers contains two charm quarks and one down quark.
The standard model of particle physics includes many particles that appear redundant for forming visible matter, such as the muon and tauon. However, these heavier, fleeting particles are mathematically necessary for the stability of common matter and help physicists understand fundamental questions about the universe.
By the numbers
Necessity of Force Carriers
Particles like the W and Z bosons, gluons, and the Higgs boson are essential for the behavior of matter. While these force carriers are often short-lived or virtual, they facilitate interactions such as the weak nuclear force and the strong nuclear force, which allow quarks to bind together and protons and neutrons to exist.
The Role of Exotic Matter
Heavier particles, including the muon, tauon, and four additional types of quarks, are typically created in high-energy environments like cosmic ray collisions or particle colliders. Although they do not form the stable matter found in stars or everyday objects, they are required for the mathematical consistency of the lepton and quark families. Research at the Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) experiment uses these particles to investigate why matter dominates over antimatter in the universe.
Recent Discoveries
In March, researchers at the LHCb experiment announced the discovery of a 'charmed proton,' which consists of two charm quarks and one down quark. This discovery highlights ongoing efforts to understand how the building blocks of the universe interact and combine.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by New Scientist.
