Friday 14 March 2025
Scientists have long been fascinated by glueballs, hypothetical particles made up entirely of gluons, which are the strong nuclear force carriers that hold quarks together inside protons and neutrons. The existence of these particles has been predicted by quantum chromodynamics (QCD), a fundamental theory of particle physics. Now, researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University have made significant progress in understanding the properties of the lightest pseudoscalar glueball, known as X(2370).
The discovery of this particle was announced by the BESIII experiment at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPCII) in 2013. The particle’s mass and spin parity were determined through a partial wave analysis of the decay J/ψ → γK0 SK0 η’. This process involves the collision of electrons and positrons, resulting in the creation of J/ψ mesons that subsequently decay into other particles.
The X(2370) is particularly interesting because it has a spin-parity configuration of 0-, which means it behaves like a scalar particle. However, its properties are not well-explained by conventional theories, making it an anomaly that challenges our understanding of the strong nuclear force.
To investigate further, researchers used lattice QCD simulations to study the production rate of X(2370) in J/ψ radiative decays. These simulations involve creating a virtual universe on a computer, where quarks and gluons can interact with each other under controlled conditions.
The results suggest that the X(2370) is indeed a pseudoscalar glueball, consistent with previous observations. However, its properties are not as expected, indicating that new physics may be at play.
One possible explanation for this anomaly is the presence of exotic states, which are particles composed of quarks and gluons in unconventional configurations. These states could interact with each other in ways that affect the decay patterns of particles like X(2370).
The study also highlights the importance of experimental searches for evidence of X(2370) at future colliders, such as Belle-II. By detecting this particle, scientists may gain insights into the underlying structure of the strong nuclear force and potentially uncover new physics beyond our current understanding.
As researchers continue to probe the mysteries of the X(2370), they are pushing the boundaries of our knowledge about the fundamental forces of nature. The search for this elusive particle is an exciting example of how scientific inquiry can lead to a deeper understanding of the universe and its many secrets.
Cite this article: “Mysterious Glueball Particle Challenges Understanding of Strong Nuclear Force”, The Science Archive, 2025.
Glueballs, Qcd, Particle Physics, Strong Nuclear Force, Lattice Qcd Simulations, Pseudoscalar Glueball, Exotic States, Quantum Chromodynamics, Bepcii, Belle-Ii.
