Autóiparton

Autóiparton is a term used in particle physics to describe a constituent of a composite particle, specifically a hadron like a proton or neutron. These constituents are believed to be fundamental particles that are themselves indivisible. The term "parton" was introduced by Richard Feynman in 1969 to explain the behavior of hadrons when probed by high-energy electrons. He envisioned hadrons as containing a collection of point-like, relativistic objects that he called partons.

The concept of partons was later refined with the development of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the theory of the strong nuclear force. In QCD, the fundamental constituents of hadrons are quarks and gluons. Quarks are the matter particles that carry electric charge and interact via the strong force. Gluons are the force carriers of the strong interaction, binding quarks together. Therefore, in the modern understanding, autóipartons are identified with quarks and gluons.

When a hadron is subjected to a high-energy collision, its autóipartons can be scattered. The distribution and properties of these autóipartons can be probed through experiments like deep inelastic scattering. The results of these experiments provide crucial information about the internal structure of hadrons and the dynamics of the strong force. The concept of autóipartons has been instrumental in understanding the behavior of matter at the subatomic level and has been a cornerstone of particle physics research.