Particle physics

Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the elementary constituents of matter and radiation, and the interactions between them. It is also called high energy physics, because many elementary particles do not occur under normal circumstances in nature, but can be created and detected during energetic collisions of other particles, as is done in particle accelerators.

The Standard Model of particle physics

The current state of the classification of elementary particles is the Standard Model. It describes the strong, weak, and electromagnetic fundamental forces, using mediating gauge bosons. The species of gauge bosons are the photon, W- and W+ and Z bosons, and the gluons. The model also contains 24 fundamental particles, which are the constituents of matter. Finally, it predicts the existence of a type of boson known as the Higgs boson, which has yet to be discovered.

Related Topics:
Standard Model - Strong - Weak - Electromagnetic - Fundamental force - Gauge boson - Photon - W^- and W⁺ - Z boson - Gluon - Fundamental particle - Matter - Boson - Higgs boson

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