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quarkcharged particleFundamental particles from which all hadrons are made. According to the theory of quantum chromodynamics, protons, neutrons, and their higher-energy cousins are composed of trios of quarks, while the mesons are each made of one quark and one antiquark. Held together by the strong nuclear force, quarks are not found in isolation in nature today; see asymptotic freedom.
primordial quarkquarkAll baryons and mesons are believed to be composed of quarks, which are elementary particles of fractional charge. In the high-density, hot-temperature phase of the very early universe, prolific numbers of quarks would have been present in equilibrium with the other elementary particles. As the universe expanded and cooled, some of these quarks may have been frozen out. To what extent independent free quarks could survive is an unresolved issue of elementary particle physics.

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