Prootonid

Prootonid is a hypothetical composite particle discussed in speculative models of particle physics. In several proposals it is described as a baryon-like bound state with baryon number one, formed from three more fundamental constituents, often referred to as preons or exotic quarks, held together by a new strong interaction. The electric charge of a prootonid is model-dependent; some versions assign it a +1e charge similar to the proton, while others allow for neutral or differently charged variants.

Mass and internal structure in these models are not fixed by experiment and vary with the assumed constituents and binding dynamics. Prootonids are typically envisioned as heavier than the proton, with mass scales ranging from a few GeV to the TeV range, depending on the strength of the binding interaction and the masses of the subcomponents. The spin of a prootonid likewise depends on the spins of its constituents and their quantum couplings, and could be fermionic (spin 1/2 or higher) or, in some constructions, bosonic.

Interactions of a prootonid with standard-model particles are model-dependent. If it carries color charge, it would participate in strong interactions and could be produced in high-energy collisions; its electromagnetic interactions follow from its charge. Decay patterns, lifetimes, and possible stability are determined by the conservation laws and symmetries posited in the underlying theory. In many scenarios, a prootonid would decay rapidly to lighter hadrons, while in others a neutral or symmetry-protected version could be long-lived or serve as a dark matter candidate.

Status: there is no experimental evidence for prootonids. They remain a theoretical construct used to explore consequences of extended hadron models and new binding forces. Searches for exotic hadrons and long-lived particles at collider experiments constrain some parameter spaces, but no definitive detection has occurred.