Why dont the quarks in neutrons annhialate?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Jarfi
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Neutrons Quarks
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on why quarks in neutrons do not annihilate despite having opposite charges. It concludes that the Heisenberg uncertainty principle and degeneracy pressure are not the primary factors at play. Instead, the strong force is the dominant interaction, allowing quarks of different colors to form stable groups, such as protons and neutrons, which remain intact despite the attractive nature of their charges.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quark theory and color charge
  • Familiarity with the strong force in particle physics
  • Knowledge of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle
  • Concept of degeneracy pressure in quantum mechanics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the role of the strong force in particle interactions
  • Study the implications of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle on particle behavior
  • Explore the concept of color charge in quantum chromodynamics (QCD)
  • Investigate the stability of baryons and their formation
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, students of particle physics, and anyone interested in the fundamental interactions governing subatomic particles.

Jarfi
Messages
384
Reaction score
12
The quarks in neutrons have opposide charges and therefore they should attract, but why don't they just fall into each other. Is it the Heisenberg principle or degeneracy pressure?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Jarfi said:
The quarks in neutrons have opposide charges and therefore they should attract, but why don't they just fall into each other. Is it the Heisenberg principle or degeneracy pressure?

Protons & electrons attract each other, and they don't annihilate either. So that must not be the issue. Particles and anti-particles can annihilate.

There are quarks in protons that are of different charges as well, as in neutrons. So that must not be the issue either.

In fact, quarks of different colors can be strongly attracted to each other. Groups of 3 can be very stable. The most elementary of those are protons & neutrons. The strong force pulls them (the quarks) together so tightly that charge is not much of a factor.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
6K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K