New Study Provides Unprecedented Detail on Quark Distribution Inside a Proton
A groundbreaking study has shed new light on the distribution of quarks within a proton, revealing insights into the fundamental particles that make up atomic nuclei. Led by theoretical physicist Shohini Bhattacharya from Brookhaven National Laboratory, a team of researchers has produced the highest resolution map to date of the different kinds of quarks inside a proton. These findings not only expand our understanding of the structure of atoms but also have implications for future fundamental physics experiments.
Quarks, which make up protons and neutrons, are even smaller particles. While the quantum landscape within protons is a chaotic interplay of quarks and their opposing antiquarks constantly appearing and disappearing, two “flavors” dominate – two up-flavor quarks and a single down-flavor quark. The team’s calculations show that the up quark is more symmetrically distributed and spread over a smaller distance than the down quark.
The study utilized advanced analytical techniques, such as bouncing scattered light into the particles to calculate their changes in momentum. Unlike previous assumptions, the team’s calculations revealed that changes in momentum were not equal throughout, leading to a more precise understanding of the interactions between the quarks. This breakthrough allowed the researchers to measure more scattering events with greater accuracy without increased computational power.
Surprisingly, the reactions of the up and down quarks accounted for less than 70 percent of the proton’s spin, suggesting that gluons, force-mediating particles, play a larger role in proton structure than previously thought.
One of the key techniques employed in the study was lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD), which uses a 4D structure to accurately model quarks with the help of a supercomputer. By assessing all possible interactions and determining their probabilities, the team was able to map out the distribution of quarks within a proton with ten times greater resolution than previous efforts.
Scientists believe that understanding quarks, these fundamental particles, is crucial to unraveling the mysteries of the universe. The findings from this study will serve as a basis for further experiments at the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) and the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). These experiments will delve into the foundational laws of nature and matter, aiming to validate the models produced by this study.
Physicist Joshua Miller from Temple University emphasized the importance of combining theory and experimentation to gain a complete understanding of the proton’s structure. The research has been published in Physical Review D, adding to the body of knowledge surrounding quarks and their significance in the universe.