CERN Physicists Discover Recent Heavy Proton-Like Particle, the Ξcc⁺

Geneva, Switzerland – Scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) have announced the discovery of a new particle, the Ξcc⁺ (Xi-cc-plus), a heavier version of the proton. This discovery, made using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), marks the 80th subatomic particle identified at CERN and promises to refine our understanding of the strong nuclear force.

What is the Ξcc⁺ Particle?

The Ξcc⁺ particle is a type of baryon, similar to the proton, but approximately four times heavier. Physicists describe it as containing two charm quarks and one down quark. Protons, in contrast, are composed of two up quarks and one down quark. The increased mass stems from the substitution of heavier charm quarks for up quarks.

How Was It Discovered?

The discovery was made by physicists working on the LHCb experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The LHC smashes protons together at near the speed of light, recreating conditions similar to those shortly after the Big Bang. These collisions produce a shower of debris, which is then analyzed by detectors. The Guardian reports that the particle was spotted in this debris.

The LHCb detector was recently upgraded, increasing its power and sensitivity. This upgrade was crucial to the discovery, as the Ξcc⁺ particle has a very short lifespan and is difficult to detect. According to Professor Tim Gershon at the University of Warwick, who will take over as the LHCb international lead in July, “The improved detection capability allowed us to find the particle after only one year, while we could not witness it in a decade of data collected with the original LHCb.”

Why is This Discovery Critical?

The discovery of the Ξcc⁺ particle will help physicists refine their understanding of the strong nuclear force, one of the four fundamental forces in nature. This force binds quarks together within protons and neutrons, and ultimately holds atomic nuclei together. The strong force is unique in that it gets stronger as the distance between subatomic particles increases.

“The result will help theorists test models of quantum chromodynamics, the theory of the strong force that binds quarks into not only conventional baryons and mesons but also more exotic hadrons such as tetraquarks and pentaquarks,” stated Vincenzo Vagnoni, spokesperson for the LHCb experiment.

Previous Discoveries and Future Research

In 2017, the LHCb experiment also discovered a similar particle, composed of two charm quarks and one up quark. The newly discovered Ξcc⁺ particle is even more challenging to detect, with an expected lifetime six times shorter than its predecessor. New Scientist notes this discovery resolves a 20-year-old mystery.

CERN is currently planning to build the Future Circular Collider, an even larger particle smasher, to continue exploring the fundamental mysteries of the universe. This latest discovery is just one of many expected insights from the upgraded LHCb detector.