What causes a quark to change its flavor?

[stochastic]

So what makes a down quark turn up? And why does this create a boson?

 

[malawi_glenn]

the laws of physics;)

this is also a quantum mechanics topic with no classical analogy, in fact I do not know of ANY analogy with the the weak interaction and classical mechanics (everyday life experience).

 

[sir-pinski]

The phenomenon of quark flip-flopping, also known as quark flavor changing, occurs due to the strong force that binds quarks together. Quarks have a property called "flavor," which determines their type (up, down, charm, strange, top, or bottom). These flavors are not fixed and can change through interactions with other particles.

In the case of a down quark turning into an up quark, it is due to the exchange of a W boson. This is one of the fundamental particles responsible for the weak nuclear force, which is responsible for radioactive decay and other subatomic processes. The W boson carries a positive or negative charge and can change the flavor of a quark by exchanging it with another quark.

When a down quark turns into an up quark, it emits a W boson, which then interacts with another quark, causing it to change its flavor. This process of quark flip-flopping is essential in maintaining the stability of matter and allows for the creation of new particles through the exchange of bosons.

In summary, quark flip-flopping occurs due to the strong force, and the exchange of W bosons allows for the transformation of quark flavors, leading to the creation of new particles. This phenomenon plays a crucial role in the structure and behavior of matter at the subatomic level.