AQA ยท A level Physics

Quark-gluon plasma wake A-level challenge

Can you get 100%? Use a CERN heavy-ion result to test the strong interaction, momentum transfer and how a statistical particle pattern reveals a wake.

Read how CERN detected a plasma wake

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Question

8 marks

Answer all parts. Show your working and give units where appropriate.

1(a)

State the interaction that normally confines quarks inside hadrons and name its exchange particle at the fundamental level.

[2 marks]

1(b)

A fast quark enters the plasma with momentum 120 GeV/c in one direction and emerges with momentum 90 GeV/c in the same direction. Calculate the momentum transferred to the plasma and explain why the plasma response must carry momentum.

[3 marks]

1(c)

The wake is inferred from a small shortage of particles in one angular region after many collisions, not photographed in one event. Explain three analysis checks needed to support the wake interpretation.

[3 marks]

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