QCD Vacuum

The QCD vacuum is the fundamental state of empty space in quantum chromodynamics, the theory describing the strong force that binds quarks and gluons inside particles like protons and neutrons. Unlike everyday vacuum, it’s not truly empty; it’s filled with constantly changing fields and fleeting particle-antiparticle pairs. These fluctuations give the vacuum a complex structure, influencing how particles interact and acquire mass. Essentially, the QCD vacuum acts as a dynamic backdrop that shapes the behavior of strong-force particles, playing a crucial role in the properties and stability of matter.