Three exotic quark particles detected in the Large Hadron Collider

the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a huge particle accelerator installed on both sides of the Franco-Swiss border by European Organization for Nuclear Research. With a circumference of 27 km, the latter is equipped with superconducting magnets and accelerating structures capable of accelerate particle beams to charge them with energy. He then goes collide two particle beams moving at a speed close to the speed of light, but in the opposite direction.

However, physicists claim to have been able identify a group of three quark particles hitherto unknown. The presence of these new particles has not been detected anywhere else than inside the largest particle accelerator in the world. They seem form each time the LHC begins a new cycle of high energy collisions.

According to data collected by the Large Collider, two of these particles are tetraquarks formed by combinations of four quarks. The third, a pentaquarkis formed by a unit of five quarks.

A major advance in the understanding of exotic quarks

The exact nature of exotic quarks remains a controversial subject in particle physics. Indeed, they do not have the same structure as the ordinary hadrons. Discovered in the 1960s, standard hadrons include a quark and an antiquark.

Some theoretical models visualize exotic hadrons as units tightly bound quarks. Others, on the contrary, see them as normal hadron pairs which are weakly related. LHCb spokesman Chris Parkes said the results of this study will help theorists to develop a unified model of exotic hadrons.

The LHC may help discover the existence of new subatomic particles

The researchers were surprised to find that these exotic particles are fully compatible with the standard modela theory that has been used for decades to describe the structure of some hypothetical particles. This discovery marks a breakthrough in quantum physics research.

Moreover, the scientists working on the LHC hope to find other particles that go beyond the standard model. In particular, they want to get their hands on new arrays of subatomic particles. Indeed, these new materials can help them to better explain the nature of certain phenomena mystery of the Universe like dark matter.

SOURCE: SCIENCEALERT