Elementary Particles

Abstract

The matter of our universe consists of elementary particles. Bodies — whether it be our own body or a star — are systems of elementary particles differing in their number and degree of organization. The existence of elementary particles — also called fundamental particles — must therefore be felt in all phenomena in the universe. The physics of elementary particles offers a deeper understanding and a more profound insight into the structure and evolution of individual bodies like atoms, molecules, crystals, rocks, planets, stars, stellar systems, and the whole universe. That is why the study of elementary particles is of fundamental importance for contemporary physics in general and for astrophysics in particular.