gluon

American  

[gloo-on] / ˈglu ɒn /

noun

Physics.

1. a massless particle with spin 1 that transmits the strong force between quarks, binding them together into baryons and mesons.

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gluon British  

/ ˈɡluːɒn /

noun

1. a hypothetical particle believed to be exchanged between quarks in order to bind them together to form particles

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gluon Scientific  

/ glo̅o̅′ŏn /

1. The subatomic particle that mediates the strong force. The exchange of gluons between two quarks changes the color of the quarks and results in the attractive force holding them together in hadrons. Gluons are bosons.

2. See Table at subatomic particle

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Etymology

Origin of gluon

First recorded in 1970–75; glue + -on ¹

Example Sentences

In a similar way, understanding how one quark and gluon behave doesn't immediately convey how a proton behaves as a whole.

From Science Daily • Dec. 2, 2024

The electromagnetic force is conveyed by the photon, the strong force by the gluon, and the weak force by particles called the W boson and Z boson.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 27, 2024

Is the gluon the source of the heat of nuclear fusion?

From Scientific American • Feb. 20, 2022

What evidence is cited to support the contention that the gluon force between quarks is greater than the strong nuclear force between hadrons?

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

The fact that confinement prevents one from observing an isolated quark or gluon might seem to make the whole notion of quarks and gluons as particles somewhat metaphysical.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking