Neutrons can undergo radioactive decay while protons do not due to their mass and the absence of lighter baryons for protons to decay into. The proton is lighter than the neutron, which restricts its decay options. Although speculative theories suggest proton decay with a lifetime comparable to the age of the universe, no experimental evidence has confirmed this phenomenon. Therefore, protons remain stable under current scientific understanding.
PREREQUISITESStudents and researchers in particle physics, theoretical physicists, and anyone interested in the stability of subatomic particles.
clem said:The proton is lighter than the neutron and all other baryons.
It could only decay into a lighter baryon, but there are none.
Some speculative theories predict proton decay with a lifetime of the order of the age of the universe, but proton decay has not been observed even at that level.