What is a kaon particle?

What is a kaon particle?

In particle physics, a kaon (/ˈkeɪ. ɒn/), also called a K meson and denoted. K. , is any of a group of four mesons distinguished by a quantum number called strangeness. In the quark model they are understood to be bound states of a strange quark (or antiquark) and an up or down antiquark (or quark).

Is kaon a baryon?

The two classes of hadrons: baryons (proton, neutron) and antibaryons (antiproton and antineutron) mesons (pion, kaon). Baryon number as a quantum number.

Is kaon a meson?

Kaons are a specific type of meson (mesons are particles made of one quark and one antiquark). What makes kaons unique is that they are made of one up quark or down quark, and one strange quark. (One of the two quarks that make of a kaon must be an antiquark, and the other must be normal matter.

Why is kaon weak interaction?

None of the decay products has a strange quark, so this decay violates conservation of strangeness and cannot proceed by the strong interaction. Describing the neutral kaons is much more complex. Particle decays by the strong or electromagnetic interactions had been observed to conserve parity in their decays.

Is kaon decay strong interaction?

They decay in about 1.24 x 10-8 seconds: They decay as follows: Decay times in this range indicate decay by the weak interaction. Note that NONE of the decay products has a strange quark, so this decay violates conservation of strangeness and cannot proceed by the strong interaction.

Is a neutral kaon strange?

Kaons are mesons formed by a strange (or anti-strange) quark and an up or down quark. They have strangeness of ± 1. Both charged kaons (K+, K-) and neutral kaons (K0, K 0) exist. These neutral kaons are distinguished by their strangeness: S(K0)=1, S(K0)=-1.

Is a kaon a hadron?

Hadrons come in two further groups, Baryons and Mesons. Mesons are hadrons that do not decay into protons, such as: pions and kaons. Pions and kaons can be positive, neutral and negative. Baryons and mesons aren’t fundamental particles and so can be split into smaller particles known as quarks.

Is a kaon a quark?

What makes kaons unique is that they are made of one up quark or down quark, and one strange quark. (One of the two quarks that make of a kaon must be an antiquark, and the other must be normal matter. For example, a kaon can be made of one up quark and a strange antiquark).

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