Conversion of Electrons into Neutrons

[EinsteinII]

Hi Members,

Can electrons be converted into neutrons? I read it somewhere and not sure about it!

 

[Naty1]

Maybe, but we sure don't know how. The standard model of particle physics does not allow for such a conversion. An electron is a fundamental particle; neutrons are composed of other fundamental particles, quarks.

String theory might offer a conceptual approach but nobody knows if particles are REALLY strings, and nobody knows if the vibrational pattern of a string can be modified to "create" another matter particle...

 

[Meir Achuz]

Hi Members,

Can electrons be converted into neutrons? I read it somewhere and not sure about it!

No,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[EinsteinII]

I got it from Wikipedia while i was reading about Betatron...

 

[Bob S]

The closest any reaction gets to converting electrons into neutrons is atomic electron capture by a radioactive nucleus. In this reaction, a proton in the nucleus captures an atomic electron from the atomic K shell, converts to a neutron, and emits an anti-neutrino. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_capture
Bob S

 

[EinsteinII]

The closest any reaction gets to converting electrons into neutrons is atomic electron capture by a radioactive nucleus. In this reaction, a proton in the nucleus captures an atomic electron from the atomic K shell, converts to a neutron, and emits an anti-neutrino. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_capture
Bob S

Little too complex for me at this time as i studied about shells long back(11 years ago). Please suggest further reading that will help me to understand the very basics of particle behavior.

 

[Parlyne]

Hi Members,

Can electrons be converted into neutrons? I read it somewhere and not sure about it!

No. Absolutely not. This would violate the conservation of electric charge.

 

[arivero]

No. Absolutely not. This would violate the conservation of electric charge.

And violation of barion number.

 

[takeTwo]

A neutron will naturally decay (~ 10 minute half-life) into a proton and an electron (and some neutrino). Reverse the process and viola!

Or, if you have some electrons with energies > 17 MeV or so, if they hit stainless steel (for example), neutrons will be emitted. It's probably a case where the electron creates a shower of stuff, including gammas, the gamma is absorbed in one of the atoms of SS, and a neutron is emitted. This is why hospitals that do radiation therapy keep the high-voltage on the x-ray machines below 17 MeV.

The neutrons are more dangerous than the x-rays since they cannot be easily shielded and the biological damage from them is higher than for photons.