The Delta Baryon

ParticleSymbolMakeupRest mass
MeV/c2
QSpin
I3
BS
Lifetime
(seconds>
Decay Modes
Delta
Δ++
uuu
1232
+2
3/2
3/2
+1
0
0.56x10-23
+
Delta
Δ+
uud
1232
+1
3/2
1/2
+1
0
0.56 x10-23
0
Delta
Δ0
udd
1232
0
3/2
-1/2
+1
0
0.56 x10-23
0
Delta
Δ-
ddd
1232
-1
3/2
-3/2
+1
0
0.56 x10-23
-

Q=charge, I3= Isospin projection, B=Baryon number, S = Strangeness

The delta is a baryon which contains only up and down quarks. The Δ+ and Δ0 have the same quark compositions as the proton and neutron respectively and decay quickly by the strong interaction to the proton and neutron and a π0. If such a decay pathway is available to a particle, it decays very quickly - on the order of 10-23 seconds. Another example is the decay Δ0 --> p+ + π-. Note that the delta baryon Δ0 has the same quark makeup as the neutron, but its mass is much larger. Its mass is sufficient for this decay to be energetically favorable. The four varieties have similar masses and are said to be an isospin quartet with isospin 3/2.

Table of quark properties
Delta baryon on baryon diagram
Index

Particle concepts
 
HyperPhysics***** Quantum Physics R Nave
Go Back