Quark Confinement

Quark confinement is a phenomenon in particle physics, specifically in Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), where quarks—fundamental particles that make up protons and neutrons—are never found in isolation. Instead, they are always bound together in pairs or triplets, forming larger particles called hadrons. This happens because the strong force, which holds quarks together, becomes stronger as they move apart, effectively creating an "energy barrier" that prevents isolation. Instead of separating, quarks generate a strong force field that pulls them back together, ensuring they remain confined within these composite particles, like protons and neutrons.