Natures Building Blocks - A consideration of the nature of matter using classical theory.
The two fundamental particles zeta+ and zeta- |
Fundamental Particles |
|---|
There are only two Fundamental Particles zeta+ and zeta- -equivalent in every way except for having opposite charges.From these everything is built.
A pretty drastic statement.But there is plenty of evidence to suggest that this may be the case.
1/ The complexity,and variety of the smallest observed particles suggests,that,as with the elements,these particles themselves are made of smaller partcles.The current belief,enshrined in the concept of Supersymmetry,is that the universe is simple so it probably isn`t valid to suggest that there are hundreds of fundamental particles.
2/The fact that probably the only force in nature is the electromagnetic force.(This will be described later).This force would only require two particles for its effects to be the same as observed in nature.
3/Particles of antimatter and matter show identical behaviour,but have an equal but opposite charge.It is easy to imagine that the structure of the positron-the antiparticle of the electron-is identical to that of the electron save for the fact that the +ve and -ve particles have swapped places.
Such particles,as isolated charge,would be prone to combining with each other,and could probably not be observed in nature.As with old theories where partcles are described as billiard balls,these particles could only approach within a certain distance of each other-Too close and the surrounding environment wouldn`t be able to absorb the vast quantity of potential energy that would be released. |
|
|---|
The photon |
|---|
If everything is made up of +ve and -ve particles what would be the characteristics of the simplest stable observable particles?
1/They would have to be resistant to attack from other particles.
2/As simple combinations,they would be quite common.
3/They would interact to only a very small degree with other matter,probably being electrically neutral,but having a small mass.
This describes the photon,and the neutrino,perfectly.The photon may be no more than a single positive and negative charge.Outside an atom,if a photon rotates too slowly,electromagnetic forces may latch onto one of its components and suck the whole particle in.If it rotates too quickly,it may become too involved in synchronous motions with nearby matter and be sucked in by the resultant gravity.The fact that in gamma emissions,photons are emitted from nuclei,with no apparent effect on the nucleus itself suggests that this particle is considerably smaller and simpler than baryons such as protons and neutrons.
The neutrino is probably a more complicted,but more symmetrical particle.This symmetry would mean that it could only have,at best,a small dipole moment,and thus it interacts with matter hardly at all.
