Exploring the Subatomic
World: Classifying
Particles
This presentation explores the classification and properties of atomic and
elementary particles, building from historical atomic models to the
Standard Model. We9ll examine spin, mass, and charge, and delve into
composite particles like hadrons, antimatter, and particle decay.
Concluding with experimental detection and future directions, this journey
will unveil the profound mysteries and ongoing quests within particle
physics.
The Standard Model: Elementary Particles
Quarks Leptons Force Carriers (Bosons)
Up Electron Photon
Down Muon Gluon
Charm Tau W Boson
Strange Electron Neutrino Z Boson
Top Muon Neutrino Higgs Boson
Bottom Tau Neutrino
The Standard Model is a comprehensive theory describing fundamental forces and elementary particles. It includes quarks,
leptons, and force-carrying bosons. Quarks combine to form hadrons, while leptons are fundamental particles. Bosons mediate
fundamental interactions, with the Higgs boson responsible for mass generation. This model is the cornerstone of particle
physics.
Classification by Spin
Fermions Bosons Spin
Particles with half-integer spin Particles with integer spin (e.g., , Spin is an intrinsic form of angular
(e.g., / , / ). This group includes , ). Force carriers like photons momentum carried by elementary
quarks and leptons, the and gluons fall into this category. particles, playing a crucial role in
fundamental building blocks of Bosons follow Bose-Einstein determining their quantum
matter. They obey the Fermi-Dirac statistics. behavior and interactions.
statistics.
Particles are classified by their spin, an intrinsic form of angular momentum. Fermions, with half-integer spin, constitute matter,
while bosons, with integer spin, mediate forces. The spin of a particle dictates its statistical behavior. Fermi-Dirac statistics
governs fermions, while Bose-Einstein statistics governs bosons.
Classification by Mass
Rest Mass
A fundamental property, measured in MeV/c² or GeV/c².
Massless Particles
Photons and gluons are theoretically massless.
Higgs Boson
Plays a key role in generating mass.
Particles are also classified by mass, a fundamental property. Rest mass is measured in MeV/c² or GeV/c². Some particles, like
photons and gluons, are theoretically massless. The Higgs boson plays a crucial role in mass generation, as particles interact
with the Higgs field to acquire mass.
Classification by Charge
Strong Charge
(Color charge): Red, green, blue (for
quarks and gluons).
Electric Charge Weak Charge
Positive, negative, or neutral. Related to the weak interaction.
1 3
Charge is another essential classification criterion. Electric charge can be positive, negative, or neutral. Strong charge, or color
charge, applies to quarks and gluons, with red, green, and blue variants. Weak charge relates to the weak interaction, and charge
conservation laws govern particle interactions, ensuring charge remains constant.
Hadrons: Composite
Particles
Baryons
1
Three quarks (e.g., proton, neutron).
Mesons
2
Quark-antiquark pairs (e.g., pion, kaon).
Hadrons are composite particles made of quarks. Baryons consist of three
quarks, such as protons (uud) and neutrons (udd). Mesons are quark-
antiquark pairs, including pions and kaons. The strong force confines
quarks within hadrons, preventing their isolation. Understanding hadron
composition is crucial to probing fundamental interactions.
Antimatter
1 Positron
2 Antiproton
3 Antielectron
4 Antiquark
5 Antimuon
Every particle has an antiparticle with the same mass but opposite charge. Examples include electrons (e-) and positrons (e+),
and protons (p+) and antiprotons (p-). Particle-antiparticle collisions result in annihilation, releasing energy (E=mc²). Dirac's
prediction of antimatter revolutionized physics, revealing a deeper symmetry in the universe.
Particle Decay and Lifetime
Unstable Particles Lifetime
Decay into other particles. Average time before decay.
Decay Modes
Different possible decay products.
Unstable particles undergo decay into other particles. The lifetime
represents the average time before a particle decays, and decay modes
describe different possible decay products. Examples include muon decay
and neutron decay. Studying particle decay helps reveal fundamental
properties and interactions.
Experimental Detection
1 Particle Accelerators
Create high-energy collisions (e.g., LHC at CERN).
2 Detectors
Track and identify particles (e.g., calorimeters, tracking
chambers).
Experimental detection relies on particle accelerators, such as the LHC at
CERN, to create high-energy collisions. Detectors track and identify
particles using calorimeters and tracking chambers. These experiments
have led to major discoveries, including the Higgs boson, advancing our
understanding of particle physics.
Open Questions and
Future Directions
95%
Dark Side
Unknown nature of the universe.
10^80
Hypothetical Particles
Exotic new entities with theorized.
Many open questions remain beyond the Standard Model, including
neutrino masses and the nature of dark matter and dark energy.
Theoretical frameworks like supersymmetry and string theory offer
potential solutions. Future colliders and experiments aim to probe these
mysteries and deepen our understanding of the universe.
