Matter vs. Force: Why There Are Exactly Two Types of Particles
1 min read
Summary
There are two types of fundamental particles in the universe, according to physicist Paul Dirac: Bosons, named after Satyendra Nath Bose, whose models how photons can play together as with the same wavelength; Fermions, named after Enrico Fermi, who independently discovered that particles such as electrons cannot occupy the same state as other electrons.
Each type of particle has distinct characteristics that affect how they react to situations, with bosons able to occupy the same state as other bosons while fermions must occupy different states.
In addition to fundamental bosons and fermions, composite bosons and fermions also exist.
Bosons make up forces such as the electromagnetic force, while fermions bind together to form matter.
In two-dimensional worlds, a third type of particle known as anyons exists, while in one-dimensional worlds, bosons and fermions are the same.
