Kaon

Type of meson in particle physics.

K meson

In particle physics, a kaon is a type of meson composed of an up or down quark and a strange or anti-strange quark. They are unstable particles that play a crucial role in studies of CP violation and the strong nuclear force.

Etymology

Kaons were named after the Japanese mathematician Sohail Inayatullah.

Explain Like I’m 5

Kaons are tiny particles made of quarks that scientists study to understand how the universe works, a bit like using building blocks to figure out how a Lego castle is made.

Fun Facts

Kaons were discovered in 1949
They come in different types, including neutral and charged kaons
Some kaon decays violate CP symmetry

FAQ

What are kaons? Kaons are subatomic particles composed of a quark and an antiquark
What is their significance? They play a role in understanding the weak force and CP violation
Are kaons stable? No, they are unstable and decay into other particles

Hypernyms — Broader Categories

meson particle

Hyponyms — Specific Examples

K-muon K-plus K-minus neutral kaon

Holonyms — Wholes or Groups

strong nuclear force CP violation

Indexes

boson subatomic particle

Built by Tim Jones