Strange Quarks (AQA AS Physics): Revision Note
Exam code: 7407
Strange Particles
Strange particles are particles that include a strange or anti-strange quark
An example of these are kaons
Strange particles always:
Are produced through the strong interaction
Decay through the weak interaction
Are produced in quark-antiquark pairs
An example of a kaon production could be:

Kaons are produced through the strong interaction. This is shown by the gluon exchange particle.
An example of kaon decay could be:

Kaons decay via the weak interaction. This is shown by the W+ boson.
Strangeness
Strangeness, S, like baryon and lepton number, is a quantum number
Strangeness is conserved in every interaction except the weak interaction
This means that strange particles are always produced in pairs (e.g. K+ and K–)
S depends on whether the particle contains a strange quark, anti-strange quark, or no strange quarks
Particles with an anti-strange quark have S = +1
Particle with a strange quark have S = –1
Particles with no strange quark have S = 0

Only particles with a strange quark have a strangeness of +1 or –1
Strangeness can change by 0, +1 or –1 in weak interactions
Worked Example
The sigma baryon has a quark structure of suu. It decays to produce a proton and pion as shown in the equation below

Prove that this decay is via the weak interaction.
Answer:
Step 1: Determine the strangeness, S of each particle
Since sigma baryon has one s quark, it has S = –1
The proton and pion has no strange particles, so they have S = 0
Step 2: Determine strangeness, S on both sides of the equation
The sigma baryon has a S = –1 but the meson and proton have a S = 0
–1 = 0 + 0
Step 3: Comment on the conservation of strangeness
Since S is not conserved on both sides of the decay equation (only changed by –1), this decay is via the weak interaction
This is because S is conserved in all other types of interaction (strong and EM), but isn't always conserved in weak interactions
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