Law of baryon conservation questions

The law of conservation of baryons was determined through various experiments such as the study of nuclear reactions and particle collisions. Examples of baryon conservation can be seen in nuclear reactions and particle decays.In summary, the law of conservation of baryons states that the number of baryons in a system remains constant and is not affected by the number of leptons. This law was determined through various experiments and is broken at high energies. No experimental evidence shows that baryons can decay into mesons, as mesons have a baryon number of zero.
  • #1
lightoflife
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I am unclear about this law of the conservation of baryons; does it mean that the number of leptons can change OR the number of baryons but not both? Also, does it mean that no experimental evidence shows that baryons can decay into mesons. Can someone state clearly the law of conservation of baryons and how this was determined and perhaps cite a few examples? thanks
 
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  • #2
Baryon number conservation means that the number of baryons does not change and has nothing to do with leptons. Lepton number conservation means that the number of leptons do not change.

At low energies, the Standard Model of particle physics predicts both lepton and baryon number conservation. At higher energies, both of these are broken by non-perturbative effects and what is conserved is the number of baryons minus the number of leptons.

lightoflife said:
Also, does it mean that no experimental evidence shows that baryons can decay into mesons.
If baryon number is conserved, a baryon cannot decay into mesons only (it can decay into another baryon and mesons) as mesons have baryon number zero.
 

1. What is the law of baryon conservation?

The law of baryon conservation states that the total number of baryons (protons and neutrons) in a closed system remains constant over time. This means that baryons cannot be created or destroyed, only converted into different forms.

2. Why is the law of baryon conservation important?

The law of baryon conservation is important because it helps us understand the behavior and interactions of particles in the universe. It is a fundamental principle in the study of particle physics and is essential in explaining the stability of matter.

3. How does the law of baryon conservation relate to the conservation of energy?

The law of baryon conservation is a specific case of the conservation of energy, as baryons are a form of matter and have energy associated with them. This means that the total energy of a closed system, including baryons, is also conserved.

4. Is the law of baryon conservation always true?

According to current scientific understanding, the law of baryon conservation is considered to be a fundamental principle of nature and has been observed to hold true in all known physical processes. However, there are some theories that suggest it may not hold true in certain extreme conditions, such as in the early universe or within black holes.

5. How is the law of baryon conservation tested and verified?

The law of baryon conservation is tested and verified through various experiments and observations in particle physics. These experiments involve studying the behavior of particles and their interactions, and analyzing the energy and momentum of these particles before and after the interaction. If the total number of baryons remains constant, it provides evidence for the validity of the law of baryon conservation.

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