Strangelets

Strangelet is the term given to a hypothetical microscopic lump of ‘strange matter’ containing almost equal numbers of particles called up, down and strange quarks. According to most theoretical work, strangelets should change to ordinary matter within a thousand-millionth of a second. But could strangelets coalesce with ordinary matter and change it to strange matter? This question was first raised before the start up of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, RHIC, in 2000 in the United States. A study at the time showed that there was no cause for concern, and RHIC has now run for eight years, searching for strangelets without detecting any. At times, the LHC will run with beams of heavy nuclei, just as RHIC does. The LHC’s beams will have more energy than RHIC, but this makes it even less likely that strangelets could form. It is difficult for strange matter to stick together in the high temperatures produced by such colliders, rather as ice does not form in hot water. In addition, quarks will be more dilute at the LHC than at RHIC, making it more difficult to assemble strange matter. Strangelet production at the LHC is therefore less likely than at RHIC, and experience there has already validated the arguments that strangelets cannot be produced.

Originally posted by Sacrosanct
reply to post by havok

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Ah. Thank you for your insightful post. I see now, so by 'strangelets' they really mean 'strange matter'? So, I was right to assume strangelets are indeed strange particles. However - as your source clearly states - strangelets do not survive for very long (although - I have never heard of this hypothesis that strange particles may be 'infectious' so to speak! that really is fascinating! must read more on that...)

I would still like to see a source for OPs statements. Again, Cannot thank you enough for your post. Starred,.