New Sub-Atomic Particle Discovered By Us Scientists

San Francisco, 21 Jumadil Awal 1437/29 February 2016 (MINA) – Particle physicists working for the U.S. government announced Friday they have discovered a new sub-atomic particle called a tetraquark, adding to researchers’ understanding of the inner workings of atoms.

Quarks are dot-like particles that are the building blocks for sub-atomic particles such as neutrons and protons. During the past 60 years, scientists have observed quarks linked in pairs or trios, but Friday’s announcement is first time a tetraquark made of four different quarks has been seen — a milestone in figuring out the fundamental building blocks of matter, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The data that led scientists to discover the new particle came from the Fermilab, a laboratory specializing in high-energy particle physics funded by the Energy Department.

The discovery came from data provided by Fermilab’s Tevitron particle collider, which was shut down in 2011 but scientists are still pouring over mounds of information stemming from Tevitron experiments.

“The discovery of a unique member of the tetraquark family with four different quark flavors will help theorists develop models that will allow for a deeper understanding of these particles,” said Nigel Lockyer, Fermilab director.

The particle is named X(5568) after its mass, 5568 megaelectronvolts, a miniscule measurement of energy. The discovery of the particle came as a surprise.

Last July, scientists first saw hints of abnormalities in data from particle collisions years earlier – data that continues to be studied for new discoveries.

“At first, we didn’t believe it was a new particle,” says Fermilab spokesperson Dmitri Denisov. “Only after we performed multiple cross-checks did we start to believe that the signal we saw could not be explained by backgrounds or known processes, but was evidence of a new particle.”

Last year, scientists discovered strong evidence for the existence of a pentaquark, a particle built of five quarks.

Tetraquarks and pentaquarks not only reveal information about atoms, but could also hold keys to understanding the physics of how massive stars collapse in outer space. (T/P010/R07)

Miraj Islamic News Agency (MINA)