Fundamental Particles

Comprehensive reference table of elementary particles including mass, energy levels, and maximum velocities. Features both confirmed Standard Model particles and theoretical particles like gravitons and tachyons.

Particle Category Rest Mass (MeV/c²) Typical Energy Maximum Speed Notes
Up Quark (u) Fermion 2.2 ± 0.5 ~GeV scale < c Most common quark, +2/3 charge
Down Quark (d) Fermion 4.7 ± 0.5 ~GeV scale < c Second most common quark, -1/3 charge
Charm Quark (c) Fermion 1275 ± 25 ~GeV scale < c Second generation, +2/3 charge
Strange Quark (s) Fermion 95 ± 5 ~GeV scale < c Second generation, -1/3 charge
Top Quark (t) Fermion 173,100 ± 600 ~100 GeV < c Heaviest known particle, +2/3 charge
Bottom Quark (b) Fermion 4180 ± 30 ~GeV scale < c Third generation, -1/3 charge
Electron (e⁻) Fermion 0.511 keV to MeV < c Stable charged lepton
Electron Neutrino (νₑ) Fermion < 2.2 × 10⁻⁶ eV to MeV ≈ c Nearly massless, travels at ~c
Muon (μ⁻) Fermion 105.66 MeV scale < c Heavy electron, τ = 2.2 μs
Muon Neutrino (νμ) Fermion < 0.17 MeV to GeV ≈ c Second generation neutrino
Tau (τ⁻) Fermion 1776.86 GeV scale < c Heaviest lepton, τ = 0.29 ps
Tau Neutrino (ντ) Fermion < 15.5 GeV scale ≈ c Third generation neutrino
Photon (γ) Boson 0 eV to TeV c Massless, electromagnetic force carrier
W Boson (W±) Boson 80,379 ± 12 ~80 GeV < c Weak force carrier, charged
Z Boson (Z⁰) Boson 91,188 ± 2 ~91 GeV < c Weak force carrier, neutral
Gluon (g) Boson 0 MeV to GeV c* Strong force carrier, confined
Higgs Boson (H) Boson 125,100 ± 140 ~125 GeV < c Mass-giving mechanism
Graviton Theoretical 0 (predicted) Variable c Hypothetical gravity force carrier
Axion Theoretical 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻³ μeV to meV ≈ c Dark matter candidate
Neutralino Theoretical 100 to 1000 GeV scale < c SUSY dark matter candidate
Tachyon Theoretical Imaginary Variable > c Hypothetical faster-than-light particle
Magnetic Monopole Theoretical 10¹⁶ GeV (GUT) Extremely high < c Single magnetic pole
Sterile Neutrino Theoretical eV to keV eV to keV < c Right-handed neutrino
WIMP Theoretical > 9 GeV/c² (constrained) GeV to TeV < c (non-relativistic) Leading dark matter candidate, no detection above 9 GeV/c² (LZ 2024)

Legend & Notes

c = Speed of light (299,792,458 m/s)
MeV/c² = Mega-electron volts per speed of light squared (mass unit)
Fermions: Matter particles with half-integer spin (1/2, 3/2, etc.)
Bosons: Force carriers with integer spin (0, 1, 2, etc.)
Theoretical: Particles predicted by theory but not yet observed
*Gluons: Travel at c but are confined within hadrons
Tachyons: Would have imaginary mass and always travel faster than light
Energy levels vary significantly based on experimental conditions and particle interactions

Interactive Standard Model