42 episodes
The Field Guide to Particle Physics Sean Downes
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- Science
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5.0 • 4 Ratings
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This is your informal guide to the subatomic ecosystem we’re all immersed in. In this series, we explore the taxa of particle species and how they interact with one another. Our aim is give us all a better foundation for understanding our place in the universe.
The guide starts with a host of different particle species. We’ll talk about their masses, charges and interactions with other particles. We’ll talk about how they are created, how they decay, and what other particles they might be made of.
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The Antineutron
Like the antiproton, the antineutron is a composite particle made up of antiquarks. It looks a lot like the neutron, and that’s pretty interesting because both of those particles have no electric charge!
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The Antiproton
Virtual pions and gluons and other quantum effects are all dressed up in the antiproton package around three valance antiquarks. That’s two anti-up quarks and one anti-down quark. The antiproton looks virtually identical to the proton - except that it has a negative electric charge.
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The Positron
The positron is the antiparticle partner to the electron. Like the electron, positrons are stable. They do not decay. But of course, we don’t see may of them around.
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The Impact of Particle Physics on the Moon
Planetary scientist Jean-Philippe Combe joints us to discuss the how cosmic rays and particles from the solar wind impact and affect the surface of the moon.
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Cosmic Rays : Part 4 : Paleoclimatology and Muons
When ice forms it traps air molecules with it. Ancient ice, trapped deep in glaciers near the Earth's poles can give us a record of what the atmosphere was like thousands - if not millions - of years ago. But only if we can calibrate the relationship between time and depth. Unlike sunlight, muons from cosmic rays can penetrate deep into this glacial ice, complicating this just a little bit.
Customer Reviews
A fun take on a complicated subject
Particle physics is hard and full of details. I’ve worked in the field for years. This is a fun, new take on some of the otherwise forgotten parts of modern physics. I’m really biased, of course, but I wouldn’t write this if I didn’t love it!
Bite Size Particle Physics
This is an excellent and easily digestible intro to particle physics and its interesting real world applications. It also gives me a break from the stress of the pandemic. I love that I can get further into the topics presented here with their free course on their website. 11/10 would recommend!