原子一問 二十分

Strong nuclear interaction (強作用力), which is one of the fundamental forces of nature, holds all the proton (質子) and neutrons (中子) together to form a nucleus of an atom. This force is mediated by gluons (膠子) that are responsible for binding quarks (夸克) together to form a nucleon (i.e. a proton or a neutron).

If there were no gluon, a proton or neutron could not be formed, as their component, the quarks, could not be held firmly together. Without any proton or neutron, an atom is essentially non-existent.