Can Neutron Matter be Spun in Toroidal Magnetic Bottle?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of containing neutron matter within a toroidal magnetic bottle and the implications of spinning this matter at high speeds. Participants explore the theoretical aspects of neutron matter stability, pressure requirements, and the effects of rotation on neutron matter within the context of astrophysical conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether neutron matter could be spun at high speeds within a toroidal magnetic bottle without flying apart due to insufficient tensile strength.
  • Another participant raises concerns about whether rotational speed would lower the pressure on neutron matter, potentially causing it to evaporate.
  • There is a query about the nature of the Strong Force bond between neutrons in neutron matter and whether they interact with each other.
  • Participants discuss the extreme pressure required to maintain neutron matter stability, noting it exceeds current human capabilities.
  • It is suggested that neutrons, being neutrally charged, cannot be confined by a magnetic field, which complicates the idea of using a magnetic bottle for neutron matter.
  • One participant mentions that while neutron stars exist for extended periods, the stability of neutrons within them is uncertain, as they may decay under certain conditions.
  • Another participant clarifies that the concept involves holding a rapidly rotating ring of neutron matter with femto scale wires, but acknowledges that a magnetic bottle may not be effective for this purpose.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of containing and manipulating neutron matter, with no consensus reached on the effectiveness of a toroidal magnetic bottle or the implications of rotational dynamics on neutron stability.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in recreating neutron star conditions on Earth, leading to reliance on theoretical models and hypotheses regarding neutron interactions and stability.

SkepticJ
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If neutron matter were contained under huge pressure(equal to the gravity pressure in a neutron star) inside a toroidal magnetic bottle(the devices creating the magnetic field in turn are held together by a hyper strong material) could the neutron matter(and the witchery that contains it) be spun at high speed and have a tensile strength that would hold the entire affair from flying apart? I've tried thinking about this for days without being able to give myself an answer. :confused: :frown:
 
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I should have written these in the above post:

Would the rotational speed lower the pressure(even though it's inside the magnetic bottle pressure tank) on the neutron matter causing it to evaporate?

Do the neutrons within neutron matter have a Strong Force bond with the neutrons they touch?

What level of pressure is needed to keep neutron matter stable?
 
Your centrifuge would fly apart long before you achieved the pressure required to achieve neutron degeneracy. Think about it.
 
SkepticJ said:
I should have written these in the above post:

Would the rotational speed lower the pressure(even though it's inside the magnetic bottle pressure tank) on the neutron matter causing it to evaporate?

Do the neutrons within neutron matter have a Strong Force bond with the neutrons they touch?

What level of pressure is needed to keep neutron matter stable?
First of all, neutrons being neutrally charged cannot be confined by a magnetic field - only charged particles can be confined by a magetic field. In the D-T fusion reaction, neutrons escape from the confined plasma.

The pressure required to maintain neutronium (degenerate neutron matter) greatly exceeds by several orders of magnitude any pressure humans can create on earth.

Neutrons in a neutron star likely have some kind of interaction; however, since we cannot recreate such conditions on Earth, we are left with hypotheses or theories based on subatomic interactions we can observe.

It is not clear that neutrons in a neutron star are necessarily stable. Perhaps they decay into a proton as some point, or become a baryonic resonance, which then decays back into a neutron. If a neutron decays into a proton, it may capture an electron and become a neutron again. Neverthless, there is some type of equilibrium because neutron stars exist for a long time compared to the free neutron half-life.
 
Chronos said:
Your centrifuge would fly apart long before you achieved the pressure required to achieve neutron degeneracy. Think about it.

No, no, not spinning neutrons to force them to become neutron matter; but holding a fastly rotating ring together with femto scale wires of neutron matter held inside a magnetic bottle. Astronuc informed me that a magnetic bottle wouldn't work for this, so the whole idea I had goes to pieces.
 

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