Foundations Of Nuclear And Particle Physics May 2026

Nuclear physics focuses on the atomic nucleus—the dense core of protons and neutrons at the center of every atom. Fundamental Nuclear and Particle Physics Section

: The Standard Model explains three of the four known forces: electromagnetism, the strong force (which binds nuclei), and the weak force (responsible for radioactive decay). Gravity remains the outlier that physicists are still working to integrate. 2. The Heart of the Matter: Nuclear Physics Foundations of nuclear and particle physics

Particle physics is the study of the elementary building blocks of matter and radiation. At this scale, we move beyond atoms to the truly fundamental particles that have no substructure. Nuclear physics focuses on the atomic nucleus—the dense