{"title":"Force carriers in the Standard Model and gravity","summary":"In quantum field theory, interactions are described through fields and their couplings. The Standard Model force-carrier summary is: photon for electromagnetism, gluons for the strong interaction, and W⁺, W⁻, and Z⁰ bosons for the weak interaction. Gravity is described by general relativity at established macroscopic scales; a graviton remains hypothetical.","interactions":[{"id":"electromagnetic","name":"Electromagnetic interaction","family":"fundamental interaction","kind":"interaction-reference","carriers":["photon (γ)"],"carrier_ids":["particle-photon"],"source_ids":["cern-standard-model","pdg-particles"],"status":"established-standard-model","range":"infinite","explanation":"The photon is the quantum of the electromagnetic field. Classical electric and magnetic fields are the appropriate macroscopic description in many settings."},{"id":"strong","name":"Strong interaction","family":"fundamental interaction","kind":"interaction-reference","carriers":["gluon (g; eight color states)"],"carrier_ids":["particle-gluon"],"source_ids":["cern-standard-model","pdg-particles"],"status":"established-standard-model","range":"short at observable scales","explanation":"Gluons carry color charge and mediate QCD interactions. Confinement means isolated gluons are not observed as free particles; residual nuclear forces between nucleons are an effective interaction, not simply a free-gluon exchange picture."},{"id":"weak","name":"Weak interaction","family":"fundamental interaction","kind":"interaction-reference","carriers":["W⁺","W⁻","Z⁰"],"carrier_ids":["particle-W-plus","particle-W-minus","particle-Z-boson"],"source_ids":["cern-standard-model","pdg-particles"],"status":"established-standard-model","range":"very short","explanation":"Charged-current processes involve W bosons; neutral-current processes involve the Z boson. Their large masses make the interaction short-ranged at ordinary energies."},{"id":"gravity","name":"Gravitation","family":"fundamental interaction","kind":"interaction-reference","carriers":["graviton (hypothetical)"],"carrier_ids":["particle-graviton"],"source_ids":["cern-gravitons","pdg-particles"],"status":"no-confirmed-quantum-carrier","range":"infinite","explanation":"General relativity describes gravity classically as spacetime curvature. A graviton is a proposed quantum carrier in quantum-gravity frameworks; it has not been experimentally observed, and gravity is not incorporated as a quantum force in the Standard Model."}],"higgs_distinction":"The Higgs boson is an excitation of the Higgs field, not a force carrier for one of the four interactions in the usual force-carrier summary. The Higgs mechanism gives W and Z bosons mass; it does not provide arbitrary control of the mass of objects.","interpretation":"“Exchange” is a useful quantum-field-theory description, especially in perturbative calculations; it should not be taken to mean that tiny classical objects are literally flying between bodies in every situation. Virtual particles are internal terms in a calculation, not directly detected free particles.","sources":[{"id":"cern-standard-model","title":"CERN: The Standard Model","url":"https://home.cern/science/physics/standard-model/"},{"id":"cern-higgs-mechanism","title":"CERN: The origins of the Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism","url":"https://home.cern/science/physics/origins-brout-englert-higgs-mechanism/"},{"id":"cern-gravitons","title":"CERN: Extra dimensions, gravitons, and tiny black holes","url":"https://home.cern/science/physics/extra-dimensions-gravitons-and-tiny-black-holes/"},{"id":"pdg-particles","title":"Particle Data Group: Particle Properties","url":"https://pdg.lbl.gov/2025/listings/particle_properties.html"}],"evidence_boundary":"These are established theory classifications and a proposed quantum-gravity particle, not a claim that Network0 has detected, generated, or controls any carrier."}