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:
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—Frank Pittman (20th century)
“The lonely Earth amid the balls
That hurry through the eternal halls,
A makeweight flying to the void,
Supplemental asteroid,
Or compensatory spark,
Shoots across the neutral Dark.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Standing on the bare ground,—my head bathed by the blithe air, and uplifted into infinite space,—all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eye-ball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part and particle of God.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)