strong interactions

strong interactions, actions between elementary particles mediated, or carried, by gluons. They are responsible for the binding of protons and neutrons in the nucleus and interactions between quarks. Quantum field theory applied to the understanding of these strong interactions is called quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Strong interactions are one of four fundamental interactions in nature, the others being gravitation, electromagnetism, and the weak interactions.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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