Analysis of a large amount of experimental data obtained during the collision of particles proved that
A proton is a positively charged particleincluded in the nucleus of an atom. Despite their tiny size, these particles are composite. According to quantum chromodynamics, each proton is two up quarks and one down quark, bound together by gluons. This model describes the proton relatively well, but is simplified. Numerous studies have shown that, in addition to the up and down quarks, other quarks can temporarily enter into the proton.
There are six types of quarks in total.Three of them are heavier than protons, and three are lighter. The charmed quark is the lightest of the heavy group. In their experiment, the scientists used a new approach to analyze observations made over 35 years.
To learn about the structure of subatomic andelementary particles, researchers collide them at incredible speeds in particle accelerators such as the Large Hadron Collider. In their work, scientists from the non-profit NNPDF collaboration have collected data on the results of such collisions since the 1980s.
The results of the observations were used by scientists tomachine learning model that was supposed to reconstruct the composition of the particles. The algorithm presented possible structures and the likelihood that they could actually exist.
The study showed that, although the likelihoodsuch an event is low, a charmed quark can be a part of protons. In this case, the difference in masses is regulated by the probabilistic nature of quantum physics. The large mass and low chance of a charmed quark hitting a proton balance each other out, since the total mass of a quark is not absorbed by a subatomic particle, even when it enters its composition, the physicists explain.
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