The electromagnetic force of quarks

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the electromagnetic force of quarks, exploring whether electromagnetism is sufficient to explain the binding and behavior of quarks within particles such as protons and mesons. Participants examine the implications of electromagnetic interactions and question their adequacy in the context of observed phenomena in particle physics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that the electromagnetic force between quarks is insufficient to bind them tightly enough to form stable particles like protons or mesons.
  • Others point out that if electromagnetism were the sole force at play, we would expect quarks to combine into larger structures, which is not observed in nature.
  • It is suggested that the existence of particles like the ##\Delta^{++}## and ##\Delta^-##, which consist of multiple up or down quarks, cannot be explained by electromagnetism alone.
  • Participants mention that the size of the bound states predicted by electromagnetism would be significantly larger than observed, potentially on the order of five magnitudes larger than atomic sizes.
  • Questions arise regarding the specific observations and equations that support the claim that electromagnetism is not sufficient for quark interactions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the sufficiency of electromagnetism to explain quark interactions, with multiple competing views on the implications of electromagnetic forces in particle formation. The discussion remains unresolved as participants seek further clarification and examples.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include a lack of consensus on the specific observations that demonstrate the inadequacy of electromagnetism and the absence of detailed equations to support claims about size discrepancies.

MacGyver Megh
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TL;DR
Why there is strong force while quarks has charge themselves?
If an up quark has 2/3 of positive charge and down quark has 1/3 of negative charge then why don't they add together by their electromagnetic force?
 
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There are several observational facts that mean that electromagnetism is not enough.

To start with, electromagnetism is not strong enough to bind two quarks of opposite charge as tightly as a nucleus or a meson. Instead, you would get something of a size similar to an atom, which is about five orders of magnitude larger.

Second, electromagnetism could not produce a proton, which has a net positive charge. Instead of being an energetically favoured state, the proton would not constitute a bound state and we would not exist.

Third, electromagnetism cannot explain several other effects that has to do with quarks, such as the color factor appearing in meson production and similar things.
 
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To add some more problems:
It would allow 1 up and 1 down to combine to a stable particle - but we don't see that in nature.
It would allow individual quarks to be free - but we don't see that in nature.
It would not allow the existence of ##\Delta^{++}## made out of three up quarks or ##\Delta^-## made out of three down quarks - but we found these particles.
It would not allow the existence of larger nuclei - but we see them in nature.
 
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Could you please tell me why electromagnetism is not enough? And what sort of observations they had been faced?
 
MacGyver Megh said:
Could you please tell me why electromagnetism is not enough?
I already told you that:
Orodruin said:
Instead, you would get something of a size similar to an atom, which is about five orders of magnitude larger.
 
Orodruin said:
I already told you that:
Can you please give an example or the equations what is five time larger magnitudes?
 
MacGyver Megh said:
Can you please give an example or the equations what is five time larger magnitudes?
It means that the radius of the nucleus would be around ##10^5 = 100000## times larger than what is observed.
 

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