The Charm of Strange Quarks discusses the excitement of quarks,
dark matter, and extra dimensions. It tells of a force so weak that
humans cannot experience it, yet responsible for our very existence...
A particle (the quark) not visible directly in any experiment, yet
known to be the prime constituent of the atomic nucleus... A particle
(the neutrino) so ephemeral it can traverse the diameter of Earth
without interacting, yet physicists can make beams of them and cause
collisions... Matter dark and unlike anything we experience on Earth,
yet a major constituent of the universe...
These and similar mysteries are part of the revolution that has
made particle physics a forefront science. Too often, however,
the excitement of these ideas seems hidden behind complex
presentations. This book conveys the excitement and a basic
understanding of this fundamental topic.
Very recent developments in particle physics and cosmology are
included. For example, some of the great mysteries of physics may be
resolved if we postulate that there are extra dimensions of space,
unseen by humans (this may involve string theory and black
holes). Recent astrophysical experiments suggest that the expansion
of the universe may be accelerating.
One remarkable aspect of modern physics is that the smallest objects
in the world and the largest (the universe) are intimately tied
together. Our knowledge of cosmology and astrophysics tells us about
fundamental particles and forces, and vice versa.
A very lively chronology of the events of modern particle physics
shows not only the learning process but also the missteps that occur
in real research, and how even correct new ideas move only gradually
from the status of fringe speculation to accepted view.
Some appendices will make the book more readily useful in a classroom
setting and will interest teachers and other readers too.
