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MarkoniF
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Proton electric dipole moment... what's that all about?
K^2 said:Be more specific. What is it that you don't understand? Have you tried looking for information about it? What wasn't clear from explanations elsewhere?
You can't really come in and ask such a broad question and expect a detailed explanation. We don't know your level of knowledge and ability to understand. And nobody is going to write a chapter of textbook just to explain something.
K^2 said:Proton's valence quarks have charges of +2/3, +2/3, and -1/3, for a total of +1. Furthermore, it has a bunch of quarks and anit-quarks besides these. The total charge is still +1, but there is enough going on in there to contribute to a total dipole. Neturon is also predicted to have an electric dipole, despite being neutral. The "why?" has to do with quantum field theory. I am not familiar with this particular computation, however.
...or equivalently T, which is maybe easier to visualize.Bill_K said:Not only parity, a nonzero electric dipole moment would break CP.
mfb said:What do you mean with "two separate properties"?
A proton could have a non-zero dipole moment even with a net charge of 0 (see neutron), but it needs some charged components in it: quarks.
A proton electric dipole moment refers to the separation of positive and negative charges within a proton, resulting in an overall dipole moment. This phenomenon is considered an important property of subatomic particles and is currently being studied by scientists to better understand the fundamental nature of matter.
The proton electric dipole moment is important because it can provide insights into the symmetry of the universe and help explain why matter dominates over antimatter. It can also potentially lead to a better understanding of the fundamental forces and particles that make up our universe.
The proton electric dipole moment is measured using high-precision experiments that involve observing the precession of a spinning proton in an external electric or magnetic field. This precession is caused by the dipole moment and can be measured and used to calculate its value.
The current experimental limit for the proton electric dipole moment is 1.6 x 10^-29 e.cm, which is an incredibly small value. This means that the separation of positive and negative charges within a proton is extremely tiny, making it a challenging measurement for scientists.
If a non-zero proton electric dipole moment is discovered, it could have significant implications for our understanding of the universe. It could indicate the existence of new particles or forces that are not accounted for in current theories. It could also have practical applications in the development of new technologies, such as more accurate atomic clocks or improved medical imaging techniques.