# Why there aren't gluons with charges like $b b$ or $r r$?

So my principal question is the one in the object above. But then I have another question related.

Supposing I have a $bg$ gluon.

How may I write it in the octet basis?

• Some of it is clear (to me), some not. I guess by "base" you mean "basis"? It might help to give a link to explain the octet for people who aren't familiar with it. Also what do you mean by "every one of them with charge" and "...with anti-charge"? You know that gluons always carry a pair of color charge and color anti-charge together, right? What is the "classical base matrix"? Jan 11 '16 at 13:00
• Sorry I meant "basis"! I just wanted to know why (stupid question?) there are not quarks like $bb$ or $rr$ but they only do exist with $b\bar b$ and so on.. Jan 11 '16 at 13:17
• On the issue of 8 vs. 9, see also physics.stackexchange.com/q/119190/2451 , physics.stackexchange.com/q/119202/2451 and links therein. Jan 11 '16 at 13:22
• @KimPeekII Did you mean, why there aren't gluons with charges like $bb$ or $rr$? If so, just ask it like that, it'd be a much better question. Jan 11 '16 at 13:30