The Seventh State of Matter

 About Quark-Gluon Plasma

Solid, Liquid, Gas, Plasma, Bose-Einstein condensate, Fermionic condensate, and Quark-gluon plasma. You would be wondering, what is the difference between plasma and quark-gluon plasma. Well, quark-gluon plasma is that state of matter thats achieved above plasma. Plasma is basically the free flowing ions of protons, electrons , and neutrons. This state of matter is achieved at around 10 million degree celsius. It means that plasma consists of the fundamental particles of electrons, protons ,and neutrons which are the building blocks of an atom. However, if we move on to the state of quark-gluon plasma, it is achieved at a temperature of 4 trillion degree celsius. Quarks and gluons are actually said to be the real fundamental elements of the universe along with the electron. 

Quarks and gluons were formed right after the big bang. These are the first elements to be created in the universe along with electrons. It is said that protons and neutrons are made up of quarks and they are joined together in the nucleus by gluons. There are 6 types of quarks that we know about: Up, Down, Top, Bottom, Charm ,and Strange. Protons are made up of two up quarks and one down quark while neutrons are made up of two down quarks and one up quark. To co-exist in the nucleus, they are joined together by gluons which is like glue. This is how a nucleus is made. 

When an atom reaches the temperature of approximately 10 million degree celsius, it gets separated into ions of protons, neutrons ,and electrons. Upon further heating, that is up to 4 trillion degree celsius, these ions get separated into quarks, gluons and electrons as the energy is so high at such temperatures. 

Scientists were able to create this quark-gluon plasma state on the earth by an experiment where they bombarded gold atoms at each other at extremely high speeds. This resulted in the formation of quark-gluon state but for a very short amount of time i.e approximately one billionth of a second. Research is still going on about the 7th state of matter and it is a very interesting topic to learn about.