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Questions tagged [quantum-chromodynamics]

Quantum-ChromoDynamics (QCD) is the quantum field theory believed to describe the strong nuclear force.

9 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is there an explanation for the 3:2:1 ratio between the electron, up and down quark electric charges?

I understand that the NNG formula relates $Q$, $I_3$, and $Y$ and can be derived in QCD; does this unambiguously predict the electric charge ratios without making assumptions about the definitions of ...
user1247's user avatar
  • 7,398
16 votes
2 answers
10k views

What IS Color Charge?

This question has been asked twice already, with very detailed answers. After reading those answers, I am left with one more question: what is color charge? It has nothing to do with colored light, ...
rboston's user avatar
  • 281
14 votes
1 answer
3k views

Physical meaning of the chiral condensate in QCD

Considering the QCD Lagrangian in the chiral limit, where all the quarks masses are set to zero. Then the Lagrangian has the following chiral symmetry: $$ SU(L)_{V} \times SU(L)_{A} \times U(1)_{V} \...
ottavio 's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
528 views

From which dimensionful constants does proton mass arise?

It is well known that the most of the proton (or any other hadron with light quarks) mass is not made up from quark masses, but it is dynamically generated by QCD mess inside. I've also heard that, ...
Varin Esan's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is the Noether charge associated with the the color $SU(3)$ symmetry of QCD?

A version of the Noether's theorem applies to local gauge symmetries. What is the Noether's charge associated with a non-abelian gauge symmetry such as the color $SU(3)$ and how is that derived? I ...
SRS's user avatar
  • 26.8k
6 votes
4 answers
690 views

Gluon radiation from a nucleon?

Because neutrons and protons consist of quarks, their magnetic moments differ from the so-called nuclear magneton (the natural unit for expressing magnetic dipole moments of nucleons). A neutron has a ...
Quillo's user avatar
  • 5,078
2 votes
1 answer
495 views

Similar masses and lifetimes of the $\Delta$ baryons

Why do the four spin 3/2 $\Delta$ baryons have nearly identical masses and lifetimes despite their very different $u$ and $d$ quark compositions?
Terry Bollinger's user avatar
26 votes
2 answers
3k views

Is there a strong force analog to magnetic fields?

In special relativity, magnetism can be re-interpreted as an aspect of how electric charges interact when viewed from different inertial frames. Color charge is more complex than electric charge, but ...
Terry Bollinger's user avatar
19 votes
2 answers
4k views

What is a mass gap?

I read that Quantum Chromodynamics is a theory with a mass gap. What is a mass gap in laymen terms? Why some theories have it? Which theories does not have it? Note: I searched for mass gap before ...
user09876's user avatar
  • 837
12 votes
3 answers
4k views

Why is color conserved in QCD?

According to Noether's theorem, global invariance under $SU(N)$ leads to $N^2-1$ conserved charges. But in QCD gluons are not conserved; color is. There are N colors, not $N^2-1$ colors. Am I ...
user1247's user avatar
  • 7,398
8 votes
1 answer
361 views

Intuitive explanation of how hadron mass emerges from the strong force

I'm not familiar with QCD, but I'm looking for intuitive explanation of this phenomenon (it could be that easy explanation does not exist). What I've read is that large part of hadron masses arises ...
krzysztoft's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
503 views

Do the proton PDFs change much with Q?

Specifically, the second moments, do they change much from say 100 to 1000 GeV? Why or why not?
user21675's user avatar
  • 133
5 votes
2 answers
3k views

Why do the quarks constantly change colors?

In a hadron the quarks constantly change colors.They,then exchange gluons to remain color neutral.For example a red quark becomes blue by emitting a red and anti blue gluon and then the blue quark ...
Monalisa Bose's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
191 views

Where can I get the most accurate measurements of parton distribution functions?

Where would I look to get the most accurate experimental values of parton distribution functions for the proton? I know these functions aren't measured directly, but I'd basically like to find a fit ...
David Z's user avatar
  • 76.7k
3 votes
2 answers
3k views

If quarks can't be isolated in the first place, how did they become confined in the early universe?

On one hand, we know that quarks cannot exist in isolation. This is because the energy required to dissociate a quark-antiquark pair in a meson (or quarks in a hadron) will create a mesons (or hadrons)...
Solidification's user avatar

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