Partikkelien

Partikkelien is a term used in Norwegian-language physics to denote the ensemble of subatomic particles studied in particle physics. The concept encompasses both elementary particles—such as quarks, leptons, and gauge bosons—and composite particles such as hadrons and atomic nuclei, together with the force-carrying particles that mediate interactions like photons, gluons, and the W and Z bosons. In broad usage, Partikkelien refers to the components that make up matter and mediate forces according to current theories.

In the Standard Model, the fundamental constituents of Partikkelien are organized into fermions (quarks and leptons) and bosons (gauge bosons and the Higgs boson). Quarks combine to form hadrons; leptons include electrons, muons, taus, and neutrinos. Interactions are described by quantum field theories: Quantum Electrodynamics for electromagnetic interactions, Quantum Chromodynamics for the strong force, and the electroweak theory for weak and electromagnetic forces.

Study and measurement involve high-energy particle accelerators, detectors, scattering experiments, and observations of cosmic rays to probe Partikkelien properties, such as masses, lifetimes, coupling strengths, and symmetry principles. Research aims include testing the Standard Model and searching for physics beyond it, including topics like supersymmetry, dark matter candidates, and neutrino masses.

Applications of knowledge about Partikkelien include medical imaging and cancer therapy, materials science, and the development of technologies derived from detector physics. See also particle physics, the Standard Model, quantum mechanics, hadron, and neutrino.