Can Quarks Move Between Nucleons or Change Arrangement Within One Nucleon?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the behavior of quarks within nucleons, emphasizing that quarks are held in stable triplets by the strong interaction. It concludes that quarks do not have well-defined positions or arrangements within nucleons, and the total number of quarks, including valence and sea quarks, is not a fixed quantity. The question of whether quarks can move between nucleons or change their arrangement within a single nucleon is complex, as quarks are identical particles, making such distinctions ambiguous.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum chromodynamics (QCD)
  • Familiarity with nucleon structure and properties
  • Knowledge of particle physics terminology
  • Basic grasp of the strong force and its role in particle interactions
NEXT STEPS
  • Research quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and its implications for quark behavior
  • Explore the concept of sea quarks and their role in nucleon composition
  • Investigate the strong force and its effects on particle stability
  • Study the implications of identical particles in quantum mechanics
USEFUL FOR

Particle physicists, students of quantum mechanics, and researchers interested in the fundamental interactions of matter will benefit from this discussion.

Mihai Dinu
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The strong interaction keeps the quarks in very stable triplets or due to internal dynamics the quarks are re-arranged in nucleons from time to time?
 
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The quarks don't have well-defined positions inside the nucleons, there are no "arrangements" that could change.
Not even the total number of quarks (valence plus sea quarks) is a well-defined quantity.
 
Are you asking whether quarks move between one nucleon and another, or are you asking whether they change their arrangement within one nucleon? It's not obvious to me whether the former is a well-defined question, since they're identical particles.
 
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