Zhangbu Xu

“Traditionally, scientists have assumed that each of the three main 'valence' quarks inside a proton or neutron carries one-third of the baryon number,”

Zhangbu Xu · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-16

Xu describes the traditional textbook assumption that each valence quark carries one-third of the baryon number.

“Our findings strongly support the idea that baryon number is more favorably carried and transported by gluons, the particles that hold quarks together, when arranged in this special configuration.”

Zhangbu Xu · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-16

Xu says the findings support gluons in a special configuration carrying baryon number.

“Using data collected from different types of particle collisions at RHIC, our results suggest that the baryon number is not simply carried by individual quarks,”

Zhangbu Xu · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-16

Xu explains that RHIC collision data suggest baryon number is not simply carried by individual quarks.