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Nuclear & Particle Physics

Baryons

Subatomic composite hadrons made of three valence quarks held together by gluons, possessing half-integer spin (fermions).

Governing formula Quark Content: q q q, Spin = ½, ³/₂..., Baryon Number B = 1
SI unit Composite Fermion Class

In depth

Baryons obey the Pauli Exclusion Principle and carry a conserved baryon number B = +1 (antibaryons carry B = -1). Protons and neutrons are the lightest and most stable baryons.

Examples in the real world

Protons (uud) and neutrons (udd), as well as unstable hyperons like Lambda (ud) and Sigma particles.