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Hadron: meaning, definitions and examples

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hadron

 

[ ˈhædɹən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

particle physics

A hadron is a subatomic particle that is affected by the strong force and is composed of quarks. There are two main types of hadrons: baryons, which include protons and neutrons, and mesons, which are made of quark-antiquark pairs. Hadrons are integral to the study of particle physics and the fundamental building blocks of matter.

Synonyms

baryon, meson, subatomic particle

Examples of usage

  • Protons and neutrons are examples of baryons, which are types of hadrons.
  • Mesons are involved in mediating the strong force between hadrons.
  • Particle accelerators collide hadrons to study their interactions.
  • The Large Hadron Collider is a facility designed to explore hadronic physics.

Etymology

The term 'hadron' was introduced in the early 1960s by physicists Murray Gell-Mann and George Zweig, who formulated the quark model. The word is derived from the Greek word 'hadros', meaning 'thick' or 'bulky', reflecting the composite nature of hadrons, which are made up of smaller fundamental particles called quarks. As research in particle physics advanced, hadrons became central to understanding the strong nuclear force that governs the interactions between quarks, ultimately leading to the discovery of various types of hadrons, including baryons and mesons. The classification and study of hadrons have played a significant role in the development of quantum chromodynamics, the theory that describes the strong force.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,662, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.