“What happens when ice melts? In physical terms, the average ambient energy, as measured by temperature, becomes greater than the binding energy of the water molecules, and so they break free of one another.
“All you have to do is compare kT to the binding energy. If this is greater than the binding energy of the quarks comprising a proton or neutron, then they do indeed “melt”.”
With respect, that seems pretty strained. When water melts, H20 turns into H20. But when a proton “melts”, it turns into something else. But it’s definitely not a proton by another name.
The reporter might as well have described the result of heating H2 or CH4 as “melting.” It’s just binding energy that’s being broken.
Of course, the proton "melts" into its constituent quarks.
The reporter might as well have described the result of heating H2 or CH4 as “melting.” It’s just binding energy that’s being broken.
What is the result of heating H2 or CH4? You seem to have combustion in mind, but you don't mention O2. This does point out a flaw in the idea of "melting protons", though, since they are discrete combinations of 3 quarks, rather than an extended conglomeration of identical constituents, such as ice is.
If we admit "melting protons", I guess we would have to admit "melting hydrogen" in the center of the sun, where the electrons are no longer bound to their nuclei. Maybe a stretch, but it does seem to be a legitimate extension of the concept.