Can Protons Decay at High Speeds without Colliding?

[sqljunkey]

Would a proton decay into smaller particles if you accelerate it into higher speeds without colliding it into another proton?

 

[mfb]

No.
How could it? The laws of physics are the same in every inertial frame. There is nothing special about our laboratory frame. In its rest frame it is simply a proton just as before.

There could be proton decay, of course, but I guess that's not what your question is about - if it exists it applies to all protons.

 

[sqljunkey]

I see. Just to make sure I understand fully, the simple process of accelerating a proton has no decaying effects on it?

 

[mfb]

Right.

 

[DrClaude]

Wouldn't the higher speed increase the lifetime of the proton?

 

[mfb]

In our lab frame, and assuming protons decay at all: Sure. Not that it matters, their lifetime is so long that we won't see a decay in accelerators anyway.