emh@bonnie.UUCP (Edward M. Hummel) (06/19/85)
Here is a little question for the quantum field theory- quantum chromodynamics guys. Consider a typical meson, which is made up of two quarks (q,qbar). The meson has a mass, and I assume that the quarks have a definite mass (after some kind of renormalization, perhaps). Energy conservation would indicate that: (meson mass) = (q mass) + (qbar mass) - (binding energy) Now for the question. How does one define the binding energy of quarks in hadrons? The classical notion of "binding energy" is defined in terms of the potential when the objects are infinitely separated. What does that mean for q and qbar? If the binding energy is infinite, what does this imply about the mass of our meson? Ed Hummel ------------------------------------------------------------- Asymptotic freedom?? Only if you're bound!