Elementary particles are the most fundamental constituents of matter and energy, forming the basis of the Standard Model of particle physics. They include quarks, leptons, gauge bosons, and the Higgs boson, each playing a critical role in the structure and interactions of the universe at the smallest scales.

Elementary Particles

Elementary particles

fundamental constituents of matter and energy

The Standard Model of Particle Physics is a well-established theory that describes three of the four known fundamental forces in the universe and classifies all known subatomic particles. It successfully explains electromagnetic, weak, and strong nuclear interactions but does not incorporate gravity or account for dark matter and dark energy.

Standard Model of particle physics

Quarks are elementary particles and fundamental constituents of matter, combining to form protons and neutrons within atomic nuclei. They interact through the strong force, mediated by gluons, and come in six 'flavors': up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom, each possessing unique properties such as charge and mass.

quarks

Leptons are fundamental particles that do not undergo strong interactions and are part of the Standard Model of particle physics. They include electrons, muons, tau particles, and their corresponding neutrinos, each having distinct properties such as mass and charge.

leptons

Gauge bosons are fundamental particles that act as carriers of the fundamental forces of nature, mediating interactions between other particles. They are integral to the Standard Model of particle physics, each associated with a specific force: photons for electromagnetic, W and Z bosons for weak, gluons for strong, and the hypothetical graviton for gravity.

gauge bosons

The Higgs boson is a fundamental particle associated with the Higgs field, which gives mass to other elementary particles through the Higgs mechanism. Its discovery at CERN in 2012 confirmed a crucial part of the Standard Model of particle physics, providing insight into the origin of mass in the universe.

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