The discussion centers on the distinguishability of neutrons within an alpha particle, particularly in relation to their spins and the implications of quantum mechanics. Participants explore concepts from nuclear physics, including the nature of fermions, the implications of Pauli's exclusion principle, and the modeling of nucleons in potential wells.
Participants do not reach a consensus on the distinguishability of neutrons in an alpha particle, with multiple competing views and uncertainties remaining regarding the implications of quantum mechanics and nuclear modeling.
Participants note limitations in their understanding of nuclear physics, and there are unresolved questions about the assumptions underlying the models discussed, particularly regarding the nature of the alpha particle and the treatment of nucleons.
My knowledge of nuclear physics is almost zero, but I guess that if the two neutrons are understood to be in the ground state of a potential well, then Pauli's principle demands that they are in a singlet state.vanhees71 said:Where did you get the information about the sum of the spins of the two neutrons being zero?
That's how nuclei are modeled, particles within a potential well, like Wood-Saxon. Besides, the total wavefunction is antisymmetric for the proton variable and antisymmetric for the neutron variables, but there are no antisymmetry demands between one neutron and one proton.vanhees71 said:But it's a bound state of four particles not two particles in a potential well.
Not really. Alphas are not ordinary nuclei, since every nucleon is in the 1S state. (Indeed, by some measures, an alpha is smaller than a proton).andresB said:I'm curious to know if my guess is correct or not.