Strange particles, also known as hadrons containing strange quarks, exhibit several peculiar characteristics. Here are some of their notable features:
Strangeness: Strange particles derive their name from the strange quark, which is a heavier cousin of the up and down quarks. Strangeness is a property associated with strange quarks and is quantized in units of -1, 0, or +1. Non-strange particles have a strangeness value of zero, while strange particles have a non-zero strangeness value.
Weak Decay: Strange particles frequently undergo weak decays, which involve the transformation of a strange quark into an up or down quark through the emission or absorption of a W boson. This decay process is responsible for the relatively long lifetimes of some strange particles compared to other unstable particles.
Hyperon Resonances: Hyperons are a specific type of strange particle that contain at least one strange quark. They are typically more massive than ordinary baryons (such as protons and neutrons) due to the additional strange quark. Hyperons can form resonant states with excited energy levels, leading to a variety of unique decay patterns and properties.
Strangeness Conservation: In strong interactions, the total strangeness of the particles involved is conserved. This means that in particle interactions mediated by the strong nuclear force, the number of strange quarks before and after the interaction remains the same. However, in weak interactions, strangeness is not conserved, allowing strange particles to decay into non-strange particles.
Strangeness Production and Annihilation: Strange particles can be produced in high-energy particle collisions, such as those occurring in particle accelerators. Furthermore, strange quark-antiquark pairs can be created and annihilated in high-temperature environments, such as those found in the early universe or in high-energy heavy-ion collisions.
These characteristics make strange particles intriguing subjects of study in particle physics and provide insights into the fundamental properties of matter and the strong and weak forces that govern subatomic particles.