Protons + Neutrons + Electrons =?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the interaction of beams of protons, neutrons, and electrons when shot next to each other. Participants explore the potential outcomes of such an experiment, including the formation of atoms and the complexities of particle interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the expectation of a special outcome from the interaction of the beams, suggesting that electrons and protons would attract each other, potentially causing the lines to converge.
  • Another participant notes that while electrons and protons attract, the lighter electrons would likely move more significantly, leaving protons on a relatively straight path.
  • A query is raised about the final result of the interactions, specifically whether atoms would be produced.
  • One participant emphasizes that the outcome depends on the proximity and energy of the beams, mentioning the complexity of interactions, including the role of neutrons and the strong force.
  • Another participant speculates on the possibility of a proton and an electron combining to form a neutron, likening it to an inverse beta decay process, and suggests that gravitational attraction could lead to neutron streams combining.
  • A later reply confirms that while a proton and an electron can combine to form a neutron and a neutrino, this occurrence is rare, with a higher probability of forming a hydrogen atom instead.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the outcomes of the interactions, with no consensus reached on the specifics of the processes involved or the likelihood of certain results occurring.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the conditions of the beams, such as their energy levels and proximity, which are not fully specified. The complexity of particle interactions and the low probabilities of certain events are acknowledged but not resolved.

Dominisi
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Protons + Neutrons + Electrons =?

This question has been boggling my mind for some time, hopefully some of you can shed some light on the subject. What would happen if one were to shoot a beam of Protons, a beam of neutrons, and a beam of electrons next to each other? I've made a little diagram below to kind of explain what I'm talking about.



Electrons ----------------------------------------------------
Neutrons -----------------------------------------------------
Protons ------------------------------------------------------



Thanks for the help..
 
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Why do you expect something special to happen? The question seems a bit random so maby I don't quite understand your idea?

The electrons and protons would attract each other if they are close enough so the lines would maby converge. The neutrons would continue straight ahead unless they collide with the converging protons.
 
The electrons and protons will attact one another but as the electrons are much lighter, they will move most of the distance. Therefore, the protons will still have a relatively streight path of movement
 
And what would be the final result? Would you get atoms?
 
I all depends on how close the beams are and how energetic they are: extremely close beams might produce atoms -- nucleii+elctrons -- generally speaking, the interactions between the three particles are very complex: neutrons have electrical properties, like magnetic moments, neutrons and protons interact primarily through the strong interactions -- like pion exchange -- which can be attractive or negative depending on the spin states -- so the possibiities are endless, including the production of other particles as well as photons. It's also well known to theorists that solving the three body scattering process is at best extraordinarily difficult. If you specify the details of your proposed experiment, energy, location of wave packets, spin states,and so forth, you could make some progress, maybe.

Regards,
reilly Atkinson
 
Im not too sure on this but if a proton and a electron combine, do they become a neutron like the opposite of beta decay? if so, the result would be two neutron streams which, if close enough will combine into one due to their gravitational pull on one another.
 
Yes, an electron and a proton can combine to form a neutron and a neutrino, but not very often -- low,low probability. I suspect that the probability is much higher for an electron and a proton to form a hydrogen atom. The devil is in the details.
Regards,
Reilly Atkinson
 

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