Pions are subatomic particles, also known as pi mesons, that play a vital role in mediating the strong nuclear force between nucleons (protons and neutrons) within an atomic nucleus. They are categorized into three types: positively charged ($ ext{π}^+$), negatively charged ($ ext{π}^-$), and neutral ($ ext{π}^0$). Pions are crucial in understanding how the strong force operates at the quantum level, influencing both nuclear interactions and the stability of atomic nuclei.
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