This is not true : the valence part of the proton, which determines its quantum numbers (so its unique identity) is exactly uud, but there is more to the proton. There is an infinite tower of additional Fock state, or if you will as much vacuum fluctuations as you can wish for if you look "close enough" (at short distances).faen said:
We always proceed by trials and errors. You can not expect that we knew historically about quarks before we knew about protons. Given quarks, the minimal combination considering all quantum numbers is uud. That is what we call valence part of the wavefunction.faen said:
malawi_glenn said:
blechman said:
malawi_glenn said:
faen said:
SU(3) is a type of mathematical group that is used to describe the symmetries of the strong nuclear force, which is one of the four fundamental forces in particle physics. It is used to understand the behavior of particles known as quarks within the theory of quantum chromodynamics (QCD).
Protons are made up of three quarks, which are held together by the strong nuclear force. SU(3) is used to describe the symmetries of this force and how it interacts with quarks, allowing us to better understand the structure of protons and other particles.
Quark multiplets are groups of particles that have similar properties and interact with each other in a consistent way. Understanding these multiplets is important in studying the behavior of quarks and how they form different types of particles.
Color charge is a property of quarks that describes their strong interactions. Similar to how electric charge can be positive or negative, color charge can be red, green, or blue. SU(3) is used to describe the symmetries of these color charges and how they interact with each other.
Understanding SU(3) and quarks has led to advancements in our understanding of the strong nuclear force, which has practical applications in fields such as nuclear energy and particle accelerators. It also helps us understand the behavior of matter at a fundamental level, leading to developments in technology and materials science.