Asymptotic freedom

An electron in quantom theory 'tisn't only an electron... it emits virtual photons, some of which split to electron-positron pairs. Then the positrons array themselves around the negatively charged electron "screening" some of it's negative charge from a probe. Thus... the charge of the electron increases when you measure it with a probe extremely close to the particle... at larger distances the typical charge approaches 1/137 (well... actually the fine structure constant approaches that... but that variable depends directly on the electron's charge.)

Ok.

However, when we get to the strong nuclear force (rather than the electromagnetic force), the situation changes. A given quark will emit virtual gluons... just as the electron before emitted virtual photons. So far so good. But this time, the color charge preferentially closer to the given quark will be the same, not different. So say, a red quark will be surrounded by other red charges. This increases the charge measured by a distant probe, rather than decreasing it. The closer a test probe is to the particle... the lower the charge. Thus... quarks that are very close together experience virtually no strong force... only when they begin to separate do they feel the force. This is known as asymptotic freedom.

All well and good.

BUT WHY! Why are red charges preferentially located closer to other red charges?


For that matter, why are positive charges atracted to negative charges rather than other positive charges? I wish I knew.


Btw... this post is due to the book "Quarks and Leptons: an introductory course in modern particle physics," which I am reading. I will probably post something here whenever I come across something interesting or something I don't understand... that way I'll remember my questions long enough to find the answers.