The Curious Origins of the Term ‘Quark’
Have you ever wondered where the term ‘quark’ originated from? What exactly does a ‘quark’ represent in the realm of physics? The etymology of this fascinating word is both intriguing and unexpected, making it a worthy subject for exploration.
Interestingly, the term ‘quark’ was not coined by a scientist but by a renowned writer—one of the most influential literary figures of the twentieth century. To uncover how this literary connection led to the naming of a fundamental particle, we must journey back to the early 1960s.
In 1961, the American physicist Murray Gell-Mann devised a method for categorizing various subatomic particles into families based on their behavior and characteristics. While many are familiar with the more prominent particles such as protons, neutrons, and electrons, Gell-Mann aimed to delve deeper into the composition of these particles, focusing on the even smaller constituents that formed them.
Protons carry a positive charge (+1), neutrons are neutral (0), and electrons have a negative charge (-1). However, Gell-Mann’s interest lay in particles that exhibit fractional charges—specifically those with charges of +2/3 or -1/3. These fractional charged particles contribute to the overall charge of protons and neutrons, leading to a better understanding of atomic structure.
For instance, a proton, with its overall +1 charge, can be seen as comprising two smaller particles with a charge of +2/3 and one particle with -1/3, thus achieving a balance of +1. But what should these fractional charged particles be named? One suggestion came from Gell-Mann’s colleague, the eminent physicist Richard Feynman, who proposed the term ‘parton.’ This term cleverly combines ‘part’ from ‘particle’ with the common suffix ‘-on’ found in other subatomic particles (like proton and neutron). If Feynman’s suggestion had prevailed, we might be discussing ‘flavours of partons’ today instead of ‘flavours of quarks’!
Ultimately, Gell-Mann chose ‘quark’ as the name for these new subatomic particles. This choice was somewhat unconventional and lacked the clear etymological reasoning of Feynman’s suggestion, yet ‘quark’ became the established term. Gell-Mann’s inspiration came from an unexpected source: the Irish author James Joyce.
Joyce, best known for his groundbreaking 1922 novel Ulysses, dedicated the final seventeen years of his life to creating another experimental masterpiece, Finnegans Wake, published in 1939. Within this complex and often enigmatic work, Gell-Mann discovered the phrase, ‘Three quarks for Muster Mark!’
This line is difficult to interpret, much like the rest of Finnegans Wake, which is rich in puns, wordplay, and obscure references. The phrase is thought to allude to a man’s call for more ale in a pub, transforming into ‘Three quarts for Mister Mark’—where a quart represents a quarter of a gallon, or two pints of beer.
This discovery leads to two interesting observations. Firstly, one of the most significant terms in quantum physics derives from a whimsical plea for additional beer. Secondly, it raises the question of how to pronounce ‘quark.’ Should it rhyme with ‘mark’ or ‘stork’? While the pronunciation that rhymes with ‘mark’ is more commonly accepted, if ‘quark’ indeed stems from a pun on ‘quart,’ then perhaps the alternative pronunciation is more fitting.
This distinction in pronunciation could also help differentiate the scientific term ‘quark’ from its other, older meanings, which predate Gell-Mann’s adoption. The word ‘quark’ has also referred to a type of soft German cheese, originating from a Germanic term for ‘curds.’ This cheese-related term has been in use in English since at least 1903, making it older than both the subatomic particle and Joyce’s literary creation.
Interestingly, the cheese connection segues into the discussion of the ‘flavours’ of quarks. In the world of particle physics, quarks are classified into six distinct ‘flavours’: up, down, top, bottom, strange, and charm. The term ‘flavours’ is a quirky yet fitting way to describe the different characteristics of quarks, such as their varying masses and charges.