Quark Level Charge?

Most recent answer: 07/28/2009

Q:
Do we know why there is no integer electric charge at the quark level? I understand that ensembles become integer charge, but could the quarks and gluons naively be creating some type of meissner effect that shields them?
- Kyle (age 22)
Lansing
A:
Nope, we don't know why quarks have the charge they seem to have.   By the way, I remind you that no free quark has ever been seen.  The quark theory is a very successful theory of the fundamental constituents of our observable particles, like protons and mesons.  It works so well we tend to believe it.

LeeH

(published on 07/28/2009)