Real Neutral Particle

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:

    In a real dark night of the soul it is always three o’clock in the morning, day after day.
    F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940)

    The seashore is a sort of neutral ground, a most advantageous point from which to contemplate this world. It is even a trivial place. The waves forever rolling to the land are too far-traveled and untamable to be familiar. Creeping along the endless beach amid the sun-squall and the foam, it occurs to us that we, too, are the product of sea-slime.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    You don’t hold any mystery for me, darling, do you mind? There isn’t a particle of you that I don’t know, remember, and want.
    Noël Coward (1899–1973)