atomet

Atomet is a hypothetical elementary particle proposed in speculative physics and used in science fiction to denote a fundamental unit of matter more basic than the atom. In this framework, atomet is the root building block from which atoms arise through a binding process, and it serves as a conceptual limit to the divisibility of matter. The term is a portmanteau of atom and a suffix suggesting a basic unit, and it is not part of established physical theory.

The imagined properties of atomet vary by source, but common themes include a very small intrinsic mass, a charge that may be zero or fractional, and interactions governed by a new, as-yet-undetected force or gauge interaction. Proponents often envision stable, bound states of multiple atomet units giving rise to composite particles that behave like atoms at larger scales, while allowing new physics at high energies or short distances.

In scientific literature, atomet is treated as a speculative construct, without experimental evidence. It is used to explore questions about the ultimate limits of matter, the nature of compositeness, and the potential unification of forces. In fiction and worldbuilding, atomet provides a device to discuss topics such as the origin of mass, the hierarchy of matter, or alternative cosmologies.

See also: Atom, Quarks, Preon, Fundamental interaction, Quantum gravity.