Nuclear fusion and strong force

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the role of the strong force in the nuclear fusion of atoms, particularly hydrogen. Participants explore the nature of the strong force, its relationship with color charges and gluons, and the implications of coupling constants in nuclear interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the specific role of the strong force and its components, such as color charges and gluons, in facilitating fusion.
  • There is a claim that the nuclear force is always attractive, but this is contested by others who argue that it can exhibit repulsive characteristics under certain conditions.
  • One participant mentions that the strong force is thought to be 137 times stronger than the electromagnetic force, suggesting this limits the number of protons in a nucleus.
  • Another participant clarifies that the strong coupling constant is not a fixed value but varies with energy, complicating the understanding of its effects.
  • Some participants discuss the implications of the fine structure constant in the context of the Bohr model, with differing views on its significance.
  • There is a debate regarding the comparison of forces with different ranges, particularly between the strong force and electromagnetic force, and how this affects nuclear stability.
  • Participants express uncertainty about the maximum number of protons that can exist in a stable nucleus and the relationship between this limit and the fine structure constant.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the nature of the strong force, its effects, and the implications of various constants. The discussion remains unresolved with no consensus on several key points.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about the strength of the strong force and its comparison to electromagnetic force depend on specific conditions and particle separations, which are not fully addressed. The discussion also highlights the complexity of defining forces that operate over different ranges.

  • #31
Is there any particle in nature besides neutron which is electromagnetically neutral?
 
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  • #32
humsafar said:
Is there any particle in nature besides neutron which is electromagnetically neutral?

Yes, oodles of them.
 
  • #33
If my understanding is correct, then:
An anti-proton and a proton would attract each other very easily since they are opposite charges. This would pull them together and the strong nuclear force would take over once they were close enough to each other, and soon after they would annihilate each other.

Also, in regards to the OP, the strong nuclear force is the driving force behind fusion. Once the particles get close enough for the strong force to overcome the repulsion of the electromagnetic force, the two particles would bind together.

Gluons are to the strong force like photons are to the electromagnetic force. They both "mediate" their respective forces. The attraction or repulsion of an electromagnetic source (Magnet/charged particle) is thought to be caused by an exchange of Photons. In a similar way, the attraction of the strong force is due to the exchange of Gluons between quarks.

That help at all?
 
  • #34
Drakkith said:
Gluons are to the strong force like photons are to the electromagnetic force. They both "mediate" their respective forces. The attraction or repulsion of an electromagnetic source (Magnet/charged particle) is thought to be caused by an exchange of Photons. In a similar way, the attraction of the strong force is due to the exchange of Gluons between quarks.

And a nice thing to remember about these "exchange" particles is that the force they mediate is inversely proportional to the mass of the particles themselves. This is why gravity and the electromagnetic forces have an infinite range as gravitons and photons are seen to have zero mass. Whereas a force such as the weak force is short-ranged because the exchange particles which mediate them are massive W and Z bosons.

Incidently a Z boson is another example of a charge neutral particle.

From what I can tell though, the strong force which acts between quarks, mediated by gluons does not diminish with range, however once outside the hadron which the quarks compile the strong force observed between hadrons is a residuum of this, and at which point these gluons contribute to the rho and pi mesons which act as the exchange particles between nucleons. These particles have mass and so explains partly why the strong force between nucleons has a short range.
 
Last edited:
  • #35
does neutralino have its antiparticle?
 

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