Fermions
Fermions are particles with a half-integer spin (1/2, 3/2, ...), contrary to bosons, which have an integer spin. The spin of a particle is its quantum-mechanical angular momentum, a basic property of matter. A particle with a spin of 1/2 has to rotate twice (reciprocal of 1/2) to look the same as before the rotation again. This can be imagined like the hour hand of a clock, which also has to rotate twice to show the same time again.
Fermions are subject to the Pauli exclusion principle, which means that two fermions aren't allowed to be at the same place in the same condition. Therefore matter can't be compressed indefinitely. Another effect of this principle are the shells of the atoms. Baryons, leptons and quarks are fermions.
Page last changed on March 06. 2010
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