The Mysterious Nature of Neutrons: Stability & Binding

In summary, neutrons are able to bind with protons in nuclei, but not with other neutrons. This is because identical fermions do not bind. Additionally, neutrons are unstable outside of the nucleus with a relatively short half-life of 10.3 minutes. This is due to the fact that the mass of a neutron is slightly larger than that of a proton, making it energetically impossible for a neutron to decay into a deuteron (a combination of a proton and neutron) within a stable nucleus. The nucleus itself is held together by pion exchange, similar to how Van der Waals forces hold molecules together.
  • #1
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Neutrons bind Protons in nuclei, and/or the other way around, but why don't

Neutrons bind Neutrons, with clumps of neutrons whizzing about?

And, I'm guessing this is related: Why is a Neutron unstable outside

its nucleus with about a 10.3 minute half-life?
 
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  • #3
If we consider the neutron alone, it has a mass of 939.565330 MeV/c2, and a lifetime of 885.7 seconds. The proton mass is 938.271998 MeV/c2, so the difference is 1.2933 MeV/c2. But the binding energy of the deuteron is about 2.2 MeV, and the only possible final state of neutron decay in the deuteron is two free protons plus an electron (+ neutrino). because the electron mass is 0.511 MeV/c2, neutron decay in the deuteron is energetically not possible. This true for all neutrons in all stable nuclei.
 
  • #4
The nucleus is a bag of nucleons (neutrons and protons) held together by pion exchange. The process is analogous to how Van de Waals forces can hold molecules together.

(Every time I try to write something like this I cringe a little at how wrong it is...)
 

1. What are neutrons and why are they important in the study of atoms?

Neutrons are subatomic particles that have a neutral charge and are found in the nucleus of an atom along with protons. They are important because they contribute to the mass and stability of the atom. Without neutrons, the positively charged protons in the nucleus would repel each other, causing the atom to be unstable.

2. How are neutrons able to bind with protons in the nucleus?

Neutrons are able to bind with protons through the strong nuclear force, which is one of the four fundamental forces in nature. This force is responsible for holding the nucleus together and is stronger than the electromagnetic force, which would normally cause protons to repel each other due to their positive charges.

3. What is the stability of neutrons and how does it affect the atom?

The stability of neutrons is determined by the ratio of neutrons to protons in the nucleus. If this ratio is too high or too low, the nucleus may be unstable and can undergo radioactive decay. This can result in the formation of a new element or the release of energy. The stability of neutrons is crucial for the overall stability of the atom.

4. How do scientists study the binding of neutrons in the nucleus?

Scientists use a variety of methods to study the binding of neutrons in the nucleus, including nuclear reactions, particle accelerators, and nuclear reactors. These methods allow scientists to observe the behavior of neutrons and their interactions with other particles in the nucleus.

5. What are some current theories about the mysterious nature of neutrons?

One current theory is that neutrons may have a complex internal structure, consisting of smaller particles called quarks. Another theory is that there may be a fifth fundamental force, known as the "fifth force", that is responsible for the stability and binding of neutrons in the nucleus. Further research and experimentation is needed to fully understand the mysterious nature of neutrons.

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