A dense quark liquid is distinct from a dense nucleon liquid
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A dense quark liquid is distinct from a dense nucleon liquid

Atomic nuclei are made of nucleons (like protons and neutrons)‚ which themselves are made of quarks. When crushed at high densities‚ nuclei dissolve into a liquid of nucleons and‚ at even higher densities‚ the nucleons themselves dissolve into a quark liquid.