antiquarkn.
/ˈantɪkwɑːk/, /ˈantɪkwɔːk/, U.S. /ˈæn(t)iˌkwɔrk/, /ˈæn(t)iˌkwɑrk/, /ˈænˌtaɪˌkwɔrk/, /ˈænˌtaɪˌkwɑrk/, /ˈæn(t)əˌkwɔrk/, /ˈæn(t)əˌkwɑrk/ Particle Physics.
Each of a group of subatomic particles which are the antimatter equivalents of quarks.Antiquarks combine in pairs with quarks to form mesons and in triplets to form antibaryons (e.g. antiprotons and antineutrons), and have an electrical charge of −2/3 or +1/3.
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antiquark1964
1964 M. Gell-Mann in Physics Lett. 8 214/2 A simpler and more elegant scheme can be constructed if we allow non-integral values for the charges. We can dispense entirely with the basic baryon b if we assign to the triplet t the following properties: spin ½, z = −⅓, and baryon number ⅓. We then refer to the members u⅔, d−⅓, and s−⅓ of the triplet as quarks q and the members of the anti-triplet as anti-quarks q.
1977 Dædalus Fall 33 The observed strongly interacting particles such as neutrons, protons, and mesons are believed to be compound states, consisting of quarks, antiquarks, and gluons, but with no net color.
2020 @MarcoGersabeck 6 Oct. in twitter.com (accessed 29 Jan. 2021) There are 4 neutral mesons (containing a quark and an antiquark) that periodically oscillate between their meson and anti-meson state.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2021; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1964