Physics: Proton radius smaller than believed

[Elmore Furth]

The proton is made from two up and one down quarks. The quarks are held together with gluons. The gluon is a massless boson that houses the strong nuclear force. The theory of interacting quarks and gluons is called quantum chromodynamics (or QCD for short). The Standard Model explains how 16 sub-atomic particles interact -- 12 matter particles and 4 force carrier particles. This theory is still in flux.

http://www.ipod.org.uk/reality/reality_small_world.asp

Sophisticated measurements from experiments indicate the radius is 4% smaller than thought. If true, the finding could have major ramifications for the standard model used in modern physics.

In a world where measurements out to a dozen or more decimal places are routine, a 4% difference in this subatomic particle — found in every atom's nucleus — is phenomenally large, and the finding has left theoreticians scratching their heads in wonderment and confusion.

In an editorial accompanying the report in the journal Nature, physicist Jeff Flowers of the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, England, said there were three possibilities: Either the experimenters have made a mistake, the calculations used in determining the size of the proton are wrong or, potentially most exciting and disturbing, the standard model has some kind of problem.

The team is busy rechecking all its calculations, as will be physicists around the world. Meanwhile, the Scherrer team plans to repeat the experiment using helium atoms, which have two protons and two electrons, instead of hydrogen. That should either confirm or refute their findings.

Physics: Proton radius smaller than believed, European scientists say

[Odin2005]

1. OMG, where do you get those particle plushies? I WANT ONE!!!

[Elmore Furth]

2. Here's the online source

http://www.particlezoo.net/

[Odin2005]

3. OOH, thank you!

:D

[Posteritatis]

4. That is by far the geekiest thing I expect to see today. Hee. (nt)