- #1
gildomar
- 99
- 2
Is the most stable/likely configuration of protons in heavy nuclei that of being evenly distributed throughout the nucleus? As opposed to something like a spherical distribution?
No, that's quite different. Cooper pairs form from identical fermions due to interaction with the lattice. Because they are fermions, they cannot be in the same exact state, and in fact, experience Pauli repulsion. As a result, a Cooper pair is a fairly "spread out" object. And not just in the sense of being delocalized, but expectation value for distance between two particles in a pair is rather large.gildomar said:As for the protons and neutrons being correlated, is that something like the weak bonding of Cooper pairs in superconductors?
The distribution of protons in a nucleus is not uniform. Protons are tightly packed together in the center of the nucleus, forming a dense core called the nuclear core. This core is surrounded by a cloud of less densely packed protons, which extends out to the edge of the nucleus. This distribution is known as a nuclear shell structure.
The distribution of protons in a nucleus is determined by the strong nuclear force, which is responsible for holding the protons together. This force is stronger than the electrostatic repulsion between protons, which would cause them to repel each other. The number of protons in a nucleus also plays a role in determining the distribution, as there is an optimal number of protons that can be held together by the strong nuclear force.
No, the distribution of protons in a nucleus can vary depending on the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Nuclei with different numbers of protons and neutrons will have different distributions of protons, and this can affect the stability of the nucleus.
Yes, the distribution of protons in a nucleus can change through nuclear reactions such as fusion and fission. In these reactions, the strong nuclear force is either strengthened or weakened, causing the distribution of protons to shift and potentially resulting in the formation of new elements.
The distribution of protons in a nucleus can be studied through various experimental techniques, such as electron scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance, and nuclear scattering. These techniques allow scientists to probe the structure of the nucleus and gather information about the distribution of protons and other particles within it.