Particles with neutral charges but not affected by the weak or strong force

In summary, there may be particles which have a neutral electrical charge and are not affected by the weak or strong nuclear force, but we don't know for sure. Dark matter is a possibility, as are gauge singlets (effectively right handed neutrinos) which may be detectable (a priori) through Yukawa interactions with left-handed neutrinos.
  • #1
Einstein's Cat
182
2
Are there any particles which have a neutral electrical charge and are not affected by the weak or strong nuclear force? Thank you for your time and please excuse me if I'm being very ignorant!
 
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  • #2
There's W and Z bosons if I remember correctly
 
  • #3
Syndicate said:
There's W and Z bosons if I remember correctly
Cheers very much
 
  • #4
Syndicate, if you don't know something it is not necessary to reply.

Einstein's Cat, such a particle would be sterile and thus undetectable. You can hypothesize such particles, but you can't experimentally detect them.
 
  • #5
W particles are charged. W and Z are carriers for weak force.

To answer the original question - dark matter.
 
  • #6
Vanadium 50 said:
Einstein's Cat, such a particle would be sterile and thus undetectable. You can hypothesize such particles, but you can't experimentally detect them.
I would argue against the last sentence here. You cannot hypothesise anything which cannot be experimentally detected within a scientific framework.
 
  • #7
But if I said there were no such particles someone else would quibble, "but what if there were singlets under all gauge groups?" Sometimes you just can't win.
 
  • #8
mathman said:
To answer the original question - dark matter.

Of course we don't know for sure, but it is possible - maybe even likely - that DM is charged under the weak interaction.
 
  • #9
Vanadium 50 said:
Syndicate, if you don't know something it is not necessary to reply.

Einstein's Cat, such a particle would be sterile and thus undetectable. You can hypothesize such particles, but you can't experimentally detect them.

If the particles have mass, they could be detected by their gravitational effects.
 
  • #10
Vanadium 50 said:
But if I said there were no such particles someone else would quibble, "but what if there were singlets under all gauge groups?" Sometimes you just can't win.
But gauge singlets (effectively right handed neutrinos) may be detectable (a priori) through Yukawa interactions with left-handed neutrinos.
 
  • #11
And let the quibbling begin!
 

1. What are particles with neutral charges but not affected by the weak or strong force?

Particles with neutral charges but not affected by the weak or strong force are known as electrically neutral particles. These particles do not possess any electric charge and do not interact with the strong or weak nuclear forces, but they may still interact with the electromagnetic force.

2. How are electrically neutral particles different from charged particles?

Electrically neutral particles do not have any electric charge, while charged particles have either a positive or negative charge. This difference in charge affects how these particles interact with other particles and forces in the universe.

3. What are some examples of electrically neutral particles?

Some examples of electrically neutral particles include neutrons, neutrinos, and photons. Neutrons and neutrinos are neutral because they do not possess any electric charge, while photons are neutral because they have equal amounts of positive and negative charge.

4. How do electrically neutral particles contribute to the structure of matter?

Electrically neutral particles, such as neutrons, play a crucial role in the structure of matter. They make up the nucleus of atoms along with positively charged protons, and their neutral charge helps to balance out the overall charge of the nucleus. This allows for stable and cohesive structures of matter to exist.

5. Are there any exceptions to the rule of electrically neutral particles not being affected by the weak or strong force?

Yes, there are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, in certain high-energy situations, electrically neutral particles may interact with the strong or weak nuclear forces. Additionally, some theories suggest the existence of hypothetical particles, such as axions, that are electrically neutral but may still interact with the strong or weak force.

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