Who or what is a Chiron and why is it important in physics?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the term "Chiron" and its significance in various contexts, including astronomy and mythology. Participants explore whether "Chiron" refers to the astronomical object 2060 Chiron, concepts related to chirality in quantum field theory, or the mythological centaur. The conversation touches on the concept of Centauro events in high-energy physics and their potential explanations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the meaning of "Chiron," questioning its context and relevance in physics.
  • One participant mentions 2060 Chiron, an astronomical object located between Saturn and Uranus, with a radius of about 85 km.
  • Mythological references to Chiron as a centaur and a mentor figure are discussed, highlighting his unique traits compared to other centaurs.
  • Centauro events are introduced, with one participant suggesting they might be produced by miniature black holes, while others express uncertainty about alternative explanations.
  • Participants discuss the characteristics of Centauro events, noting the unexpected lack of activity above certain levels in high-altitude emulsion experiments.
  • Some participants express a desire for further information on Centauro events and their connection to the term "Chiron."
  • Clarifications about the acronym "AFAIK" (As Far As I Know) are provided in the context of the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the meaning of "Chiron" or its relevance to the discussion. Multiple competing views exist regarding its connection to astronomy, mythology, and high-energy physics.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes various interpretations of "Chiron," with some participants expressing confusion about its application in different fields. The relationship between Centauro events and the term "Chiron" remains unresolved, with participants seeking further clarification.

Mk
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What is a "Chiron?"

What is a "Chiron?"
 
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Euuh, perhaps i am having some language-problems but what exactly do you mean by this chiron ? Where did you read this and it what context was this thing used ?

Is it a QFT-thing or are you just referring to chirality-related subjects ?


regards
marlon
 
Eeeuh, in astronomy you have this object called 2060 Chiron that has an orbit in the outer solar system, positioned between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus. The radius is about 85 km

regards
marlon
 
Mk said:
What is a "Chiron?"


In Greek mythology a chiron was a centaur, but I don't think this is what you were referring to... :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

regards
ancient marlon
 
marlon said:
In Greek mythology a chiron was a centaur, but I don't think this is what you were referring to... :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

regards
ancient marlon

Hi marlon,
you have reminded me, Chiron was the name of a particular centaur who was the teacher of somebody famous IIRC. You could say that Chiron was a "mentor centaur"-----most centaurs were wild and unruly, I think, but there were a few helpful and polite ones like him.

You asked about Centauro events in another thread. I found this

http://www.cerncourier.com/main/article/39/1/16/1

and this

http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics/CentauroEvent.html
 
Thanks, marcus for the explanation of these centauro events. did not know about them...

Mk, where you at ? Please we are all waiting in suspense for you to come out and refrase your question, sir...


regards
marlon, king of all chirons...
 
Chiron was the only centaur to have the gift of immortality

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/scaffold/GG/centaur.html

He was the tutor, or coach, of Achilles (probably a horse could give us useful suggestions about running, if he could talk)

the other centaurs liked to drink and often got into fights when they were drunk

one time, when there was a fight, Chiron was standing to one side (he stayed out of stupid fights) but he was hurt by accident

after this, he made a bargain with the gods by which he would give up his immortality, and accept death, if the gods would release Prometheus.
The gods had been punishing Prometheus for stealing fire from them and so, by Chiron's generosity, the punishment was stopped and Prometheus was again free.
-----------------------------

A Centauro event MIGHT be produced by an exploding miniature black hole.
But there might also be other explanations.

AFAIK Centauro event is seen in high altitude emulsion experiments when there is suddenly an explosion of hadrons at some level in the atmosphere but ABOVE that level there is unexpectedly little activity-----little or no photons from decay of previous particles higher up.

so how did this powerful thing "sneak in" causing so little previous disturbance higher in the atmosphere, and then explode into a lot of hadrons.

apparently at CERN they looked for some Centauro-like events but didnt find any
---------------
this leaves me unsatisfied, with questions like
What other explanations besides mini-black hole are possible?
Why is it called Centauro?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Marlon : we definitely must quit QCD. Remember the colored photon thing !? Well just as you said in your first post, I was also imagining this would deal with some kind of chiral excitation of the glue (for instance). We are geeks. :frown:

I am not sure the material here is is related to the initial question, but you provided really interesting stuff. Thanks for the infos !
 
marlon said:
Euuh, perhaps i am having some language-problems but what exactly do you mean by this chiron ? Where did you read this and it what context was this thing used ?

Is it a QFT-thing or are you just referring to chirality-related subjects ?


regards
marlon

marlon said:
Eeeuh, in astronomy you have this object called 2060 Chiron that has an orbit in the outer solar system, positioned between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus. The radius is about 85 km

regards
marlon

marcus said:
Chiron was the only centaur to have the gift of immortality

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/scaffold/GG/centaur.html

He was the tutor, or coach, of Achilles (probably a horse could give us useful suggestions about running, if he could talk)

the other centaurs liked to drink and often got into fights when they were drunk

one time, when there was a fight, Chiron was standing to one side (he stayed out of stupid fights) but he was hurt by accident

after this, he made a bargain with the gods by which he would give up his immortality, and accept death, if the gods would release Prometheus.
The gods had been punishing Prometheus for stealing fire from them and so, by Chiron's generosity, the punishment was stopped and Prometheus was again free.
-----------------------------

A Centauro event MIGHT be produced by an exploding miniature black hole.
But there might also be other explanations.

AFAIK Centauro event is seen in high altitude emulsion experiments when there is suddenly an explosion of hadrons at some level in the atmosphere but ABOVE that level there is unexpectedly little activity-----little or no photons from decay of previous particles higher up.

so how did this powerful thing "sneak in" causing so little previous disturbance higher in the atmosphere, and then explode into a lot of hadrons.

apparently at CERN they looked for some Centauro-like events but didnt find any
---------------
this leaves me unsatisfied, with questions like
What other explanations besides mini-black hole are possible?
Why is it called Centauro?

Well, I learned a lot from other uses of the word. :biggrin:


OK, http://arxiv.org/abs/http://www.arx.../hep-ph/0311318 it was there, and https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=41878 there.

Centauro events, someone mentioned that before in this thread, that probably pertains to this.

Heh, sorry for giving you a hard time. :biggrin:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #10
marcus said:
-----------------------------

A Centauro event MIGHT be produced by an exploding miniature black hole.
But there might also be other explanations.

AFAIK Centauro event is seen in high altitude emulsion experiments when there is suddenly an explosion of hadrons at some level in the atmosphere but ABOVE that level there is unexpectedly little activity-----little or no photons from decay of previous particles higher up.

so how did this powerful thing "sneak in" causing so little previous disturbance higher in the atmosphere, and then explode into a lot of hadrons.

apparently at CERN they looked for some Centauro-like events but didnt find any


That was it, but what does that have to do with Chirons?

AFAIK is what? Afact?
 
  • #11
As Far As I Know ...

BTW, Chiron is a Centaur (as in asteroid/comet/solar system body)
 
  • #13
As it seems chirons are indeed centauro-events. Your references truly learned us that...


regards
marlon
 
  • #14
ohh yes? than could someone provide more info on centauro events?
 
  • #15
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/phy...tauroEvent.html

well, check out this site given by marcus...

regards
marlon
 
Last edited by a moderator:

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