Why Do Pions Decay? Weak Force & Strong Force Explained

[jshoe96]

I heard that (charged) Pions decay due to the weak force, but what does that have anything to do with it? Also, wouldn't the strong force hold them together?

I actually came up with the idea of the Pion on my own before discovering that it had already been discovered.

Also, could they be created by smashing a proton with an anti-neutron or an anti-neutron with a proton?

Thanks.

 

[Drakkith]

Have you looked at anything else? Such as this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pion
It and several of the links explain at least a couple of your questions.

 

[jtbell]

Also, could they be created by smashing a proton with an anti-neutron or an anti-neutron with a proton?

If you smash any two particles together with enough energy (enough to create π⁺π^- pairs), you'll get pions. In high-energy particle physics experiments, pions are often a nuisance. They're the "small change" of particle physics.

 

[QuantumPion]

In high-energy particle physics experiments, pions are often a nuisance. They're the "small change" of particle physics.

Hey...you hurt my feelings.