Quantum chromodynamics

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Quantum chromodynamics, abbreviated QCD, is a relativistic quantum field theory that describes the strong nuclear force.

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[edit] Brief description

Fundamentally, baryonic matter is made of quarks that bind together to form more familiar particles, such as protons and neutrons. Quarks, like protons, have an electric charge, but enjoy the additional privilege of a color charge. One can think of the color charge as analogous to electric charge, but instead of two possible charges (positive and negative) it has three: red, green, and blue. The color charge of a quark determines how the strong nuclear force acts on it.

The force carriers of the strong force are massless particles called gluons, which are analogous to photons in QED. However, while photons have no electric charge, gluons do have a color charge; thus, gluons can interact with other gluons.

The mathematical description of all of these interactions fall under the QCD umbrella.

[edit] The Haters

Jack Chick apparently rejects the idea of QCD, or at least the idea that gluons exist.[1] Read his fascinating take, then decide for yourself. 'Course, a reading of that gem calls into question his understanding of the term, since saying things like "the binding force of an atom is gluons!" is akin to saying "the force that holds my magnet to the fridge is photons!" It's semi-clear what he's trying to say, but his wording is not exactly precise. Oh, and then there's the fact he's ignoring that we know why the atomic nucleus stays together: the strong force is many times more powerful than the electromagnetic force over distances comparable to the size of nuclei.

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. Chick tract titled "Big Daddy?"; scroll down to the bottom panels.
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