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Re:Inside the proton, the ‘most complicated thing you could ... by Tagbert on Wednesday February 14, 2024 @03:49PM (#39375125)
I've heard neutrons described as a union of a proton and an electron based on masses. The reality is probably much more complex.
Re:Inside the proton, the ‘most complicated thing you could ... by JumpCrisscross on Wednesday February 14, 2024 @04:24PM (#39375613)
> neutrons described as a union of a proton and an electron based on masses

If you squish an electron and proton really hard, you'll get a neutron [1].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_degeneracy_pressure

Re:Inside the proton, the ‘most complicated thing you could ... by bigbillheck on Wednesday February 14, 2024 @04:31PM (#39375744)
Re:Inside the proton, the ‘most complicated thing you could ... by JumpCrisscross on Wednesday February 14, 2024 @04:39PM (#39375856)
If I understand correctly, which I probably don't, this is what releases the final wave of neutrinos in a supernova.
Re:Inside the proton, the ‘most complicated thing you could ... by marsissippi on Wednesday February 14, 2024 @04:03PM (#39375301)
Certainly when a free neutron decays it releases a proton and an electron, but also (probably, hypothetically) an antineutrino.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_neutron_decay

Re:Inside the proton, the ‘most complicated thing you could ... by exmadscientist on Wednesday February 14, 2024 @04:17PM (#39375531)
The neutron and the proton are pretty similar. Of course, there's that tiny little bit of extra mass, but other than that:

Strong-force-wise, they are very hard to tell apart.

Weak-force-wise, you have the obvious changes in allowed interactions, but it's all stuff that's plain once you understand the theory of the weak force. No surprises.

Electromagnetism is actually the interesting one: just how neutral is this neutral garbage can? There are some interesting measurements to be made here. ILL in particular has done a lot with neutrons.

And the there's gravity. Gravity, you ask? Really? Yeah! If neutrons are really neutral, they don't interact electromagnetically, it's hard to get the strong force to come out and play, and the weak force only really does its thing here on the predictable* timescales of neutron decay... so all that's left is gravity. And thus, neutrons get used (or, I guess, more commonly just proposed...) as probes for gravitational effects! Fun, huh?

(* Mostly. See neutron lifetime controversy....)

Re:Inside the proton, the ‘most complicated thing you could ... by floxy on Wednesday February 14, 2024 @07:14PM (#39377447)