How Often Do Diquarks Form? A Very Simple Model

TL;DR

This paper develops a simple probabilistic model to estimate how often quarks form diquarks in a mixed quark-antiquark gas, revealing that diquark formation is relatively common but not dominant.

Contribution

It introduces a straightforward model based on nearest-neighbor distributions to estimate diquark formation probabilities in a quark-antiquark gas.

Findings

Diquark formation probabilities are generally in the tens of percent range.

Even under assumptions favoring quark-antiquark attraction, diquark formation remains at a few percent.

The model provides a baseline estimate for diquark occurrence in idealized quark gases.

Abstract

Starting from a textbook result, the nearest-neighbor distribution of particles in an ideal gas, we develop estimates for the probability with which quarks $q$ in a mixed $q$, $\bar q$ gas are more strongly attracted to the nearest $q$, potentially forming a diquark, than to the nearest $\bar q$. Generic probabilities lie in the range of tens of percent, with values in the several percent range even under extreme assumptions favoring $q\bar q$ over $qq$ attraction.