pion
Lightest meson type
A pion is a subatomic particle involved in binding protons and neutrons together in atomic nuclei.
Pions are the lightest mesons—particles made of a quark and antiquark—and come in three varieties: positive, negative, and neutral.
They were predicted theoretically before being discovered in cosmic rays.
Pion exchange mediates the strong nuclear force between nucleons.
Quark-antiquark bound state
- quarkFundamental matter particle
- antiquarkQuark's antimatter counterpart
- hadronQuark-containing subatomic particle
- muonFleeting charged lepton
decay · mass · charged · neutral · spin · virtual · exchange · mediator
Subatomic binding interaction
- nucleonProton or neutron
- protonPositive nuclear particle
- neutronUncharged nuclear particle
- bindingLegally or morally required
interaction · nuclear force · nucleus · nuclear physics · attraction · short-range
meson
Quark-antiquark bound state
- quarkFundamental matter particle
- antiquarkQuark's antimatter counterpart
- hadronQuark-containing subatomic particle
muon · decay · mass · charged · neutral · spin · virtual · exchange · mediator · particle physics
strong force
Subatomic binding interaction
binding · interaction · nuclear force · nucleus · nuclear physics · attraction · short-range