particles
Always spell out the name of the particle – do not use the mathematical symbol in text.
The mathematical symbols may be used in diagrams only when they are spelled out in full in the accompanying caption. See graphs and charts.
physics
photon
Plural: photons.
A particle representing a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation.
plasma
An ionised gas consisting of positive ions and free electrons in proportions resulting in more or less no overall electric charge, typically at low pressures (as in the upper atmosphere and in fluorescent lamps) or at very high temperatures (as in stars and nuclear fusion reactors).
The current passed through a column of plasma.
proton
A stable subatomic particle occurring in all atomic nuclei, with a positive electric charge equal in magnitude to that of an electron.
The mass of the proton is 1836 times greater than that of the electron. The atoms of each chemical element have a characteristic number of protons in the nucleus; this is known as the atomic number. The common isotope of hydrogen has a nucleus consisting of a single proton.
quark
Any of a number of subatomic particles carrying a fractional electric charge, postulated as building blocks of the hadrons. Quarks have not been directly observed but theoretical predictions based on their existence have been confirmed experimentally.
Quarks have the different states up, down, top, bottom, charm and strange. Use a space after the state:
Of all the quarks I have studied, I find the up quark the most intriguing.
Unless they are used as compound adjectives:
quench
A quench is an abnormal termination of magnet operation that happens when part of the superconducting coil goes back to its normal (resistive) state. This can happen if the field inside the magnet or the rate of change of field is too large (causing eddy currents and heating in the copper support matrix), or due to a combination of the two. More rarely, a defect in the magnet can cause a quench.
sievert
The SI unit of dose equivalent (the biological effect of ionising radiation), equal to an effective dose of a joule of energy per kilogram of recipient mass.
symbol: Sv
sigma
Number, no hyphen (except as a compound adjective), lower case "s"
Particle physicists describe the certainty of a result on a scale that goes up to 5 sigma. One sigma could be a random statistical fluctuation in the data, 3 sigma counts as evidence, but only a full 5-sigma result is a discovery. By definition, the probability that a 5-sigma result is wrong is less than one in a million.
1 sigma
3 sigma
5 sigma, etc.
The certainty of the result was given as 3 sigma.
Standard Model
Caps when referring to the theory of particle physics.
The Standard Model is a theory that describes particle physics. The MacBook is a standard model of computer.
Add a hyphen when using the term as a compound adjective:
The results of the experiment were consistent with Standard-Model predictions.
Avoid abbreviating Standard Model to SM. It’s irritating to the reader to have to check back on unnecessary abbreviations.
superconductivity
Superconductivity is a phenomenon of exactly zero electrical resistance and expulsion of magnetic fields occurring in certain materials when cooled below a characteristic critical temperature.
Superconducting is preferable to "superconductive" as an adjective (though both are technically correct).
The superconducting wires on the Large Hadron Collider are maintained at 1.9 K (-271.3 °C) – colder than outer space – by a closed liquid-helium circuit.
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