Chapter 37: Hadrons and Nuclei

Individual quarks never appear in isolation—the C-sector confinement principle forces them into colour-neutral composites. This chapter treats the bound states that result: mesons, baryons, nuclei, and the binding energy curve. We derive the semi-empirical mass formula from τ³ geometry, map the valley of stability, and identify the magic numbers that mark T² shell closures. The α-particle—the universal nuclear building block—receives its own dedicated treatment in the relevant chapter.