CKM Matrix
The CKM Matrix, or Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa Matrix, is a mathematical representation in particle physics that describes the mixing of quarks. It explains how different types of quarks can transform into one another through the weak force, which is responsible for processes like beta decay. The matrix is a key component of the Standard Model of particle physics.
The CKM Matrix consists of complex numbers that quantify the probabilities of these transformations. It is a 3x3 matrix, reflecting the three generations of quarks: up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom. Understanding the CKM Matrix helps physicists study CP violation, which is essential for explaining the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe.