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    Home»Physics»Are Quarks About to Rewrite the Laws of Physics?
    Physics

    Are Quarks About to Rewrite the Laws of Physics?

    By University of AmsterdamDecember 7, 20249 Comments3 Mins Read
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    By analyzing nuclear beta decays, physicists seek to clarify the inaccuracies in quark mixing predictions of the Standard Model and explore possibilities of new physics. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

    Particle physicists are delving deep into the Standard Model of particle physics to better understand quark mixing, which is not accurately predicted by the model.

    The quarks that form the nuclei of all atoms around us are known to “mix,” meaning they occasionally transform from one type to another. However, the exact frequencies of these transformations remain uncertain, and intriguingly, theoretical predictions don’t add up to 100%. Physicist Jordy de Vries from UvA-IoP and collaborators from Los Alamos, Seattle, and Bern have published new research that takes an important step toward unraveling these mysteries.

    Mysterious Mixing

    Good things often come in threes, and the Standard Model of particle physics is no exception. It organizes elementary particles into three “generations.” Take quarks, for example. The first generation includes the “up” and “down” quarks, which form the building blocks of atomic nuclei. Beyond these, two additional pairs exist: “charm” and “strange” quarks, as well as “top” and “bottom” quarks. Together, these six varieties are called the six quark flavors.

    The Standard Model predicts that quark flavors can transmute into one another in a process called quark mixing. However, it doesn’t specify how frequently these transformations occur. Intriguingly, recent analyses reveal a discrepancy: the probabilities of all possible quark mixings don’t add up to 100%. What could this mean? Is it a sign of physics beyond the Standard Model?

    Advancements in Quark Mixing Analysis

    To answer this question, UvA-IoP physicist Jordy de Vries and colleagues from Los Alamos, Seattle, and Bern have developed a new framework and performed associated calculations to very precisely determine the amount of mixing between up and down quarks, for which the effect is strongest.

    The work was recently published jointly in Physical Review Letters and as an Editor’s Suggestion in Physical Review C.

    Taming the Uncertainty

    As input for the calculations, the physicists use precise measurements of radioactive decay processes known as nuclear beta decays. The most accurate determination of the up-down quark mixing comes from so-called superallowed beta decays, occurring across the chart of nuclear isotopes. “Superallowed” means that the involved nuclei have no spin and are therefore easier to describe theoretically.

    Nevertheless, the calculation of the amount of mixing from the extremely precise data suffers from a theoretical uncertainty due to the subtle dance between the three fundamental forces of nature that are involved in the process: the strong nuclear force, the electromagnetic interaction, and the weak process that causes the radioactive decay.

    Refining Theoretical Models

    The new framework was designed to track this interplay and tame the theoretical uncertainty. It led the physicists to uncover effects involving the weak interactions between the constituents of the nuclei that had not been considered before. These effects currently dominate the uncertainty in the computations.

    In the near future, building on this work and on advanced many-body nuclear calculations, the uncertainties will be brought under control, thus opening the way to uncover possible footprints of new physics in nuclear processes.

    References:

    “Radiative Corrections to Superallowed β Decays in Effective Field Theory” by Vincenzo Cirigliano, Wouter Dekens, Jordy de Vries, Stefano Gandolfi, Martin Hoferichter and Emanuele Mereghetti, 18 November 2024, Physical Review Letters.
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.211801

    “Ab initio electroweak corrections to superallowed β decays and their impact on Vud” by Vincenzo Cirigliano, Wouter Dekens, Jordy de Vries, Stefano Gandolfi, Martin Hoferichter and Emanuele Mereghetti, 18 November 2024, Physical Review C.
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.110.055502

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    9 Comments

    1. LOCHER MIKE on December 7, 2024 9:57 am

      ICH WERDEN NASA MITFLIEGEN MEINER RAUMSTATION ISS BEKOMMEN ZUR TRAINING ABSOLVIEREN NACHER EINE RAKETEN HÖHE FLIEGEN ALS DIE KAMPFJET

      Reply
      • Bao-hua ZHANG on December 7, 2024 5:41 pm

        Particle physicists are delving deep into the Standard Model of particle physics to better understand quark mixing.
        VERY GOOD.

        Please ask the researchers to think deeply:
        What is the spacetime background of the quark mixing?

        Scientific research guided by correct theories can help people avoid detours, failures, and exaggeration. The physical phenomena observed by researchers in experiments are always appearances, never the natural essence of things. The natural essence of things needs to be extracted and sublimated based on mathematical theories via appearances , rather than being imagined arbitrarily.
        
        Everytime scientific revolution, the scientific research space brought by the new paradigm expands exponentially. Physics should not ignore the analyzable physical properties of topological vortices.
        (1) Traditional physics: based on mathematical formalism, experimental verification and arbitrary imagination.
        (2) Topological Vortex Theory (TVT): Although also based on mathematics (such as topology), it focuses more on non intuitive geometry and topological structures, challenging traditional physical intuition.

        Topological Vortex Theory (TVT) points out the limitations of the Standard Model in describing the large-scale structure of the universe, proposes the need to consider non-standard model components such as dark matter and dark energy, and suggests that topological vortex fields may be key to understanding these phenomena. Topological vortex theory (TVT) heralds innovative technologies such as topological electronics, topological smart batteries, topological quantum computing, etc., which may bring low-energy electronic components, almost inexhaustible currents, and revolutionary computing platforms, etc.
        
        Topology tells us that topological vortices and antivortices can form new spacetime structures via the synchronous effect of superposition, deflection, or twisting of them. Mathematics does not tell us that there must be God particles, Devil particles, Fermions, or Bosons present. When physics and mathematics diverge, arbitrary imagination will make physics no different from theology. Topological vortex research reflections on the philosophy and methodology of science help us understand the nature essence of science and the limitations of scientific methods. This not only has guiding significance for scientific research itself, but also has important implications for science education and popularization.

        All things follow certain laws, which can be revealed through observation and research ( such as topological structures ). Today, so-called academic publications (such as PRL, Nature, Science, etc.) obstinately believe that two sets of cobalt 60 rotating in opposite directions can become two mirror images of each other. This is a public humiliation to the normal intelligence of the public. They conducted extensive pseudo scientific research based on CP violations, published countless pseudo scientific papers, and received various awards. The so-called scientific evaluation system constructed based on these so-called academic publications opened the dirtiest, ugliest, and most evil era in the history of modern science. They hardly know what shame is.

        Please witness the exemplary collaboration between theoretical physicists and experimentalists (https://scitechdaily.com/microscope-spacecrafts-most-precise-test-of-key-component-of-the-theory-of-general-relativity/#comment-854286). It is normal to make mistakes in scientific research, but what is abnormal is to stubbornly adhere to erroneous positions and not repent.

        Let us continue to witness via facts the dirtiest and ugliest era in the history of sciences and humanities in human society. The laws of nature will not change due to misleading of certain so-called academic publications or endorsements from certain so-called scientific awards.

        As some comments have stated ( https://scitechdaily.com/super-photons-unveiled-sculpting-light-into-unbreakable-communication-networks/#comment-861546 ): Fortunately, we have enough pieces to put the puzzle together properly, and there are folks who have chosen to forego today’s societal structures in order to do exactly that.

        Additionally, some comments have stated ( https://scitechdaily.com/science-made-simple-what-is-nuclear-fission/#comment-862083 ): You have been spewing this type of nonsensical word salad for several years now. Outrage doesn’t equal competence. If anything, your inability to convince anyone is a sign of your incompetence. Ask the commenter:Today, so-called official (such as PRL, Nature, Science, etc.) in physics stubbornly believes that two sets of cobalt-60 rotating in opposite directions can become two sets of objects that mirror each other, and it even won awards. These so-called academic publications have the audacity to blatantly talk nonsense in public. Do you think this is personal misfortune or misfortune of humanity?

        My repetition may make some people feel disgusted ( https://scitechdaily.com/spooky-action-at-ultra-short-distances-unlocking-the-quantum-core-of-matter/#comment-866750 ). Nevertheless, in order to oppose rampant pseudoscience, I can only do so.

        Reply
      • Patrick Wheaton on December 8, 2024 8:36 am

        Does the state of Higgs boson decay determine the potential states for quark transformations?

        Reply
    2. Bao-hua ZHANG on December 7, 2024 5:56 pm

      Topological spins create everything, topological spins shape the world.
      If anyone is interested, you can browse https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/4659236468.

      Reply
    3. Jojo on December 7, 2024 8:02 pm

      “Are Quarks About to Rewrite the Laws of Physics?”
      —–
      Hopefully! Maybe we can get rid of the imaginary dark matter/energy fudge factors then.

      Reply
      • James P. on December 8, 2024 6:28 am

        Dark matter is the Aether by a different name. It exists and is affected by the gravity of mass, thus the evidence of Einstein rings caused by the warpage of space time. A Quark-Gluon background dimension might just be the Aether which allows light to transport energy between our dimension and an immediately adjacent and complementary Q-G dimension following straight lines. Consider how the effects of matter warping space-time relate to the concept of buoyancy of mass in water. Both warp the medium they exist in and with which they interact. A black hole has such massive gravity and density that it exceeds the “buoyancy” of energetic space and sinks into the adjacent dimension but is still coupled to our dimension gravitationally and magnetically.

        Reply
      • Patrick Wheaton on December 8, 2024 8:22 am

        What effect does gravitic interactions play on quark transformation? Do micro black holes play a part? Is spin cumulative or counter-cumulative depending on axis of rotation?

        Reply
    4. Patrick Wheaton on December 8, 2024 8:54 am

      In saying that a Higgs boson decays, and gives quarks mass, you say that mass is energy, and, basically, a Higgs boson is the ultimate superconductor of energy.
      Back to quarks, being dependent on mass and spin, determines the quark, but positional interactions through gravitational influences, seem to play a determining part.

      Reply
      • Bao-hua ZHANG on December 16, 2024 2:46 pm

        Everytime scientific revolution, the scientific research space brought by the new paradigm expands exponentially. Physics should not ignore the analyzable physical properties of topological vortices.
        (1) Traditional physics: based on mathematical formalism, experimental verification and arbitrary imagination.
        (2) Topological Vortex Theory (TVT): Although also based on mathematics (such as topology), it focuses more on non intuitive geometry and topological structures, challenging traditional physical intuition.

        Topological Vortex Theory (TVT) points out the limitations of the Standard Model in describing the large-scale structure of the universe, proposes the need to consider non-standard model components such as dark matter and dark energy, and suggests that topological vortex fields may be key to understanding these phenomena. Topological vortex theory (TVT) heralds innovative technologies such as topological electronics, topological smart batteries, topological quantum computing, etc., which may bring low-energy electronic components, almost inexhaustible currents, and revolutionary computing platforms, etc.
        
        Topology tells us that topological vortices and antivortices can form new spacetime structures via the synchronous effect of superposition, deflection, or twisting of them. Mathematics does not tell us that there must be God particles, Devil particles, Fermions, or Bosons present. When physics and mathematics diverge, arbitrary imagination will make physics no different from theology. Topological vortex research reflections on the philosophy and methodology of science help us understand the nature essence of science and the limitations of scientific methods. This not only has guiding significance for scientific research itself, but also has important implications for science education and popularization.

        Reply
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

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