Quite a lot! In Quantum theory, every particle generates a sea of “virtual” particles around it: these could be almost any type of particle. Just occasionally they get enough energy for us to observe it.
So we might discover all sorts of things: from Dark Matter particles (we don’t yet know what they are) or types of particle nobody has observed before.
Well, in the weird physics of quantum mechanics, observing a particle changes its properties.
When we observe an atom, we change its properties, and make new particles appear inside it. These are called virtual particles.
Comments
trishbeanx commented on :
What do you mean by virtual particles? Does this mean they aren’t actually there?
David commented on :
Well, in the weird physics of quantum mechanics, observing a particle changes its properties.
When we observe an atom, we change its properties, and make new particles appear inside it. These are called virtual particles.
David commented on :
If that doesn’t make sense, don’t worry. Nobody really, fully understands how quantum physics works, yet.