Particle physics probes the basic building blocks of matter and their interactions, which determine the structure and properties of the extreme diversity of matter in the universe. The web portal makes the fascinating research understandable to an interested public.more

Image: ESO, R. Fosburymore

25 fundamental protagonists

The notion of elementary particle comprises all matter particles (green), force particles (red) and the Higgs particle (blue), which is neither a matter particle nor a force one. There are twelve types of matter particles: up quark, down quark, electron, neutrino – and in addition two copies of this four-members family in a heavier version. There are also twelve types of force particles: eight gluons (strong interaction), the Z boson, the W+ and W- bosons (weak interaction) and the photon (electromagnetic interaction). The Higgs particle completes this list. All the known forms of radiation and matter can thus be described according to the current knowledge in terms of 25 particles. This with the restriction that the gravitational force is not incorporated here.

Elementary particles
Elementary particles