Subatomic particles propagating through steel?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the propagation of subatomic particles through the steel of a bubble chamber, exploring the implications of mass, energy, and material interactions. Participants question the mechanics of particle behavior in solid materials and the relationship between bubble chambers and nuclear physics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how a massive subatomic particle can enter a bubble chamber without melting the steel enclosure, suggesting a potential for explosive reactions.
  • Another participant argues that steel is mostly "empty" space, allowing particles to pass through if they have sufficient energy, but questions the analogy between bubble chambers and hydrogen bombs.
  • Concerns are raised about the ability of subatomic particles to propagate through solid materials, with references to the behavior of photons and electrons in opaque barriers.
  • Some participants suggest that the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic scale differs significantly from everyday experiences, noting that high-energy particles can penetrate materials without creating holes.
  • There is a discussion about the implications of mass on particle propagation, with one participant questioning the assertion that massive particles cannot penetrate solid matter.
  • Another participant highlights the complexity of interactions between particles and materials, emphasizing that outcomes depend on probabilities rather than deterministic behavior.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the mechanics of particle propagation through solid materials, with no consensus reached on the implications of mass and energy in these interactions. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the relationship between bubble chambers and nuclear physics.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations in understanding the interactions of particles with materials, including the dependence on energy levels and the nature of the materials involved. There are unresolved questions about the stability of isotopes in bubble chambers and the implications for particle detection.

alshatir
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How does a subatomic particle that has a mass propagate through the steel container of a bubble chamber? Wouldn't this require that the subatomic beam melt the steel enclosure of the bubble chamber and produce a hole so that the subatomic particle, that have a mass, can enter the bubble chamber that contains liquid hydrogen, therefore, creating a massive explosion. Doesn't the bubble chamber looks a lot like a hydrogen bomb. Did the hydrogen bomb physicsicts do tests to see if the radioactive isotope, used to create a hydrogen bomb, was stable in liquid hydrogen then discovered the bubble tracks? Did the particle physics insert an isotope within the bubble chamber to create the bubble tracks? Maybe.? Those sly little devils, you! Are there any old bubble chamber around? Wouldn't be hard to test for radioactive radiation. There would be trace amounts somewhere in the bubble chamber?
 
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Steel, as every solid material, is mainly "empty" space. You have tiny nuclei, and point-like electrons between them.
Other particles can easily pass through if they have sufficient energy.
alshatir said:
Doesn't the bubble chamber looks a lot like a hydrogen bomb.
A hydrogen bomb uses nuclear reactions, not chemical reactions as conventional bombs. This has nothing to do with a bubble chamber.
alshatir said:
Did the hydrogen bomb physicsicts do tests to see if the radioactive isotope, used to create a hydrogen bomb, was stable in liquid hydrogen then discovered the bubble tracks? Did the particle physics insert an isotope within the bubble chamber to create the bubble tracks? Maybe.? Those sly little devils, you! Are there any old bubble chamber around? Wouldn't be hard to test for radioactive radiation. There would be trace amounts somewhere in the bubble chamber?
That part does not make sense.
 
Steel, as every solid material, is mainly "empty" space. You have tiny nuclei, and point-like electrons between them.
Other particles can easily pass through if they have sufficient energy.

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But an electron beam cannot propagate through glass, and light cannot propagate through an opaque material. Also, I think what he is saying is that if the subatomic particles cannot propagate through the steel of the bubble chamber then how would you explain the ionization tracks and the reason that hydrogen liquid is used in the bubble chamber. I agree that there may be a possibility that nuclear physicist are fooling us but its unlikely yet he does bring up a good point. Your explanation that empty space of solid allow for subatomic particle does not explain why photons or high energy electron beam cannot propagate through an opaque barrier or steel without producing a hole in the steel
since photons are pretty small and if a subatomic particle has a mass well thing that have a mass, in my recollection, cannot propagate through solid matter but maybe its like star war and the laser sword make the solid into a liquid, like liquid hydrogen. Also, why don't they just use a wire gird between the target and the bubble chamber to verify if the subatomic particle really exist. If the bubble chamber is grounded (shielded) I don't think anything can penetrate steel without producing a hole in the steel. They seem to be something amiss like he saying. Also, how does the subatomic particles propagate through the initial target. I'm stating to have misgivings about particle physics since what have they really accomplished since we still burn fossil fuel for energy which is light years away from hyperdrives and all that. Would it be nice if we came up with a new source of safe the renewable energy.
 
peterbillt said:
But an electron beam cannot propagate through glass
Give them enough energy and they will.

peterbillt said:
and light cannot propagate through an opaque material.

Increase the frequency (and thus energy) of the light far enough and it will penetrate. This is why gamma rays require such dense, thick shielding to block them.

peterbillt said:
Also, why don't they just use a wire gird between the target and the bubble chamber to verify if the subatomic particle really exist.

Because then the liquid would escape through the grid.

peterbillt said:
Your explanation that empty space of solid allow for subatomic particle does not explain why photons or high energy electron beam cannot propagate through an opaque barrier or steel without producing a hole in the steel

Things do not work the same way at the atomic and subatomic scale as they do on our scale in everyday life. A subatomic particle like an electron can indeed penetrate into and/or through a material without leaving a hole. However, if the particle has a high enough energy, it can displace the atoms in the material and the accumulated displacements can eventually lead to structural failure.

peterbillt said:
I'm stating to have misgivings about particle physics since what have they really accomplished since we still burn fossil fuel for energy which is light years away from hyperdrives and all that. Would it be nice if we came up with a new source of safe the renewable energy.

The problem of developing a clean, efficient energy source is not trivial. Scientist and engineers have been working on the problem for decades, and their work shows in the continual increase in efficiency of mechanical and electronic devices and power sources of all types.
 
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peterbillt said:
since photons are pretty small

photons are as small as electrons... they are point-like particles in our understanding.

peterbillt said:
particle has a mass well thing that have a mass, in my recollection, cannot propagate through solid matter

How would mass play such a crucial role as to say that it can't propagate?
What about the massless photons? Shoot them in lead and they won't propagate as much in it either.

Nevertheless, what is to happen depends on the interactions that occur and their probabilities, and not on billiard balls hitting one another. There is a probability that the particle won't interact at all...
The photon for example can ionize an atom, it can scatter on it and it can produce a pair of particles/antiparticles. All these depend on the photon energy.
The same thing is true for any other elementary particle you decide to introduce. That elementary particle can undergo some interactions in the matterial that it penetrates which (after you can determine) can either lead you to the conclusion that your matterial is a good shield or to that your matterial is transparent to your particles.
 
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