What Would Happen If 2 Protons Collided?

[Dumbo]

Hello!

Does anyone have any ideas as to what would happen if 2 protons were accellerated to or just below the speed of light, fired (in a vacuum) in opposite directions to one another so that they would impact on each others side, not directly but rather in glancing fashion with a continuous stream of electrons (measured so as to behave like particles) being pushed in between the protons? direction of electrons could be perpendicular or in alignment with one of the protons directions.

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[azntoon]

This is an interesting hypothetical question. If the protons were accelerated to or just below the speed of light, it would depend on the exact velocity of each proton as to what would happen when they collided. At near light speed, particles interact differently than at normal velocities, and the protons could potentially pass through each other without significant interaction. If the electrons were moving perpendicular to the protons, then they could act as a barrier between the two and reduce the amount of interaction between them. However, if the electrons were in alignment with one of the protons, then they could potentially be accelerated to high energies and cause a more significant reaction. It is difficult to predict the exact outcome of this experiment without further information, but it would certainly be an interesting one to observe!

 

[denian]

Hello! That is a great question. If two protons were accelerated to high speeds and collided, several things could happen depending on the energy and conditions of the collision. One possibility is that the protons would simply bounce off each other, similar to how two billiard balls would react in a collision. Another possibility is that the protons could fuse together, forming a heavier nucleus and releasing a tremendous amount of energy. This is the process that occurs in the core of stars and is known as nuclear fusion. The direction and alignment of the electrons in between the protons would play a significant role in the outcome of the collision. If they were aligned with one of the protons, they could potentially help in the fusion process. However, if they were perpendicular to the protons, they could disrupt the collision and prevent fusion from occurring. Overall, the exact outcome would depend on the specific conditions and energies involved in the collision.