Understanding Stable Particles: Neutrons, Electrons, Photons, and Neutrinos

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the stability of certain particles, specifically neutrons, electrons, photons, and neutrinos, and the possibility of other stable particles existing at low energies. Participants explore the implications of particle stability and the search for proton decay.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the certainty that neutrons, electrons, photons, and neutrinos are the only stable particles, suggesting the possibility of more particles existing at low energies.
  • Another participant asserts that protons are stable, while free neutrons are not, and posits that any additional particles must not interact strongly with ordinary matter, or they would have been detected.
  • A participant notes the ongoing search for proton decay since the 1980s, indicating that no evidence has been found yet, but future experiments may yield different results.
  • Discussion includes a reference to a 2014 experimental result that set a lower limit on proton decay, suggesting a stability timeframe that aligns with supersymmetry predictions.
  • There are repeated mentions of the stability limits of 5.9 × 1033 years and the age of the universe, which is 13.8 x 109 years, to emphasize the stability of protons.
  • Participants correct numerical representations of the stability limits, indicating a focus on accuracy in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the stability of particles, with some asserting the stability of protons and others questioning the completeness of known stable particles. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the existence of additional stable particles.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on assumptions about particle interactions and detection capabilities, and the discussion does not resolve the implications of the experimental results mentioned.

Garrulo
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How can be sure than the unique stable particles are the neutrons, the electrons, the photons and the neutrinos? Couln´t it be possible than at low energies were there more particles??
 
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Protons are stable. Free neutrons are not.

There could be more particles, but they cannot interact strongly with ordinary matter, or we would have seen them by now.
 
A 2014 result with 260kT·yr of data, searching for decay to K-mesons set a lower limit of 5.9 × 1033 yr,[5] close to a supersymmetry (SUSY) prediction of near 1034yr.[6]
And the universe is 13.8 x 109 yrs old so that's pretty stable.
 
jerromyjon said:
A 2014 result with 260kT·yr of data, searching for decay to K-mesons set a lower limit of 5.9 × 1033 yr,[5] close to a supersymmetry (SUSY) prediction of near 1034yr.[6]
And the universe is 13.8 x 109 yrs old so that's pretty stable.
1033 and 1034 should be 1033 and 1034.
 
mathman said:
1033 and 1034 should be 1033 and 1034.
Sorry, I copy and pasted from jtbell's link...
 

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