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Standard Model
Medsker
14
Science
Undergraduate 1
02/22/2010

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Term
What is the standard model?
Definition
A theory of three of the four known fundamental interactions and the elementary particles that take part in these interactions. These particles make up all visible matter in the universe.
Term
Fermions
Definition
Matter particles with ½-integer spin; 6 quarks and 6 leptons
Term
Quark
Definition
Elementary particle of matter (specifically a fermion w/a 1/2 spin). Come in 6 flavors; only elementary particles to experience all 4 fundamental forces (electromagnetism, gravitation, strong & weak); combine to form hadrons
Term
Lepton
Definition
Elementary particle (specifically a fermion w/a 1/2 spin). Not subject to the strong force.
Term
Boson
Definition
Force carrier particles with integer-spin; can occupy the same place in space; 3 gauge bosons (photons, W & Z, and gluons) + the undiscovered Higgs boson
Term
Hadrons
Definition
Composite particle made by quarks held together by the strong force. 2 types: Meson (1 quark + 1 antiquark) and Baryon (3 quarks, e.g. protons & neutrons)
Term
Neutrino
Definition
Elementary lepton particles that travel close to the speed of light; electrically neutral; have miniscule mass but pass through ordinary matter; 3 flavors; associated with weak interaction
Term
Photon
Definition
An elementary particle (boson).basic unit of light; the quantum force carrier for electromagnetism; zero rest mass (this is why it can travel at the speed of light)
Term
Gluon
Definition
elementary particle (boson) that binds quarks together
Term
W and Z Bosons
Definition
bosons that mediate the weak force
Term
Graviton
Definition
hypothetical elementary particle that mediates the force of gravity; massless; contradicts the notion of curved spacetime in the general relativity framework
Term
tachyon
Definition
hypothetical subatomic particle - travels faster than the speed of light
Term
Higgs Boson
Definition
particle to exist by standard model in order to resolve inconsistencies in theoretical physics; seminal particle associated with the Big Bang
Term
Large Hadron Collider (LHC)
Definition
world’s most powerful particle accelerator (Geneva, Switzerland); collides opposing particle beams; allowing for lab-controlled observations of quantum interactions and possible discovery of hypothetical particles
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