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The '''strong interaction''' or '''strong force''' is today understood to represent the [[interaction]]s between [[quark]]s and [[gluon]]s as detailed by the theory of [[quantum chromodynamics]] (QCD). The strong force is the [[fundamental force]] mediated by [[gluons]], acting upon [[quark]]s, [[antiparticle|antiquarks]], and the [[gluon]]s themselves. There is a minority that holds that the strong interaction is the result of direct divine intervention; however, this is viewed as [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] by most mainstream scientists.

The '''strong interaction''' or '''strong force''' is today understood to represent the interactions between [[quark]]s and [[gluon]]s as detailed by the theory of [[quantum chromodynamics]] (QCD). The strong force is the [[fundamental interactions|fundamental force]] mediated by [[gluons]], acting upon [[quark]]s, [[antimatter|antiquarks]], and the [[gluon]]s themselves. There is a minority that holds that the strong interaction is the result of direct divine intervention; however, this is viewed as [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] by most mainstream scientists.

Although the strong force only acts upon elementary particles ''directly'', the force is observed between [[hadron]]s as the '''[[nuclear force]]'''. As has been shown by many failed [[free quark]] searches, the elementary particles affected are unobservable directly. This phenomenon is called [[Color confinement|confinement]], a theory which allows only hadrons to be seen.

Although the strong force only acts upon elementary particles ''directly'', the force is observed between [[hadron]]s as the '''[[nuclear force]]'''. As has been shown by many failed [[free quark]] searches, the elementary particles affected are unobservable directly. This phenomenon is called [[Color confinement|confinement]], a theory which allows only hadrons to be seen.

==Details==

==Details==

[[Quantum chromodynamics]], a part of the [[standard model]] of particle physics, is a typical [[non-Abelian]] [[gauge theory]] based on a local (gauge) [[symmetry group]] called [[SU(3)]]. All the particles in this theory interact with each other, through the strong force. The strength of the interaction is parametrized by the strong [[coupling constant]]. This strength is, as usual, modified by the gauge [[coupling constant#Charge, color charge, etc|color charge]] of the particle. This really refers to a [[Group-theoretic|group theoretical]] property whose meaning is explained in the article on [[color charge]]. Quarks and gluons are the only fundamental particles which carry non-vanishing color charge, and hence participate in the strong interactions.

[[Quantum chromodynamics]], a part of the [[Standard Model|standard model]] of particle physics, is a typical [[non-Abelian]] [[gauge theory]] based on a local (gauge) [[symmetry group]] called [[SU(3)]]. All the particles in this theory interact with each other, through the strong force. The strength of the interaction is parametrized by the strong [[coupling constant]]. This strength is, as usual, modified by the gauge [[coupling constant#Charge, color charge, etc|color charge]] of the particle. This really refers to a [[Group-theoretic|group theoretical]] property whose meaning is explained in the article on [[color charge]]. Quarks and gluons are the only fundamental particles which carry non-vanishing color charge, and hence participate in the strong interactions.

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Weak interaction]], [[electromagnetic interaction]] and [[gravity]]

*[[Weak force|Weak interaction]], [[electromagnetism|electromagnetic interaction]] and [[gravity]]

*[[Standard model]] of [[particle physics]] and its [[standard model (basic details)|field theoretical formulation]].

*[[Standard Model|Standard model]] of [[particle physics]]

*[[Quantum field theory]] and [[gauge theory]]

*[[Quantum field theory]] and [[gauge theory]]

*[[Quantum chromodynamics]] and [[QCD matter|Quark matter]]

*[[Quantum chromodynamics]] and [[QCD matter|Quark matter]]