In particle physics, a real neutral particle is an elementary particle that is its own antiparticle. Known examples include photons, Z bosons, and neutral pions; along with the hypothetical Higgs bosons, neutralinos, sterile neutrinos, and gravitons (if they exist).
The electromagnetic charge, weak charge, and strong charge of such a particle must be the same as that of its antiparticle. In the case of the electric and strong charges, this implies that the charge must be zero.
For a spin-1/2 particle such as the (hypothetical) neutralino, being a real neutral particle means being a Majorana fermion.
Famous quotes containing the words real, neutral and/or particle:
“Every age, every culture, every custom and tradition has its own character, its own weakness and its own strength, its beauties and cruelties; it accepts certain sufferings as matters of course, puts up patiently with certain evils. Human life is reduced to real suffering, to hell, only when two ages, two cultures and religions overlap.”
—Hermann Hesse (1877–1962)
“I feel the carousel starting slowly
And going faster and faster: desk, papers, books,
Photographs of friends, the window and the trees
Merging in one neutral band that surrounds
Me on all sides, everywhere I look.”
—John Ashbery (b. 1927)
“The way to learn German, is, to read the same dozen pages over and over a hundred times, till you know every word and particle in them, and can pronounce and repeat them by heart.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)