Posted on 09/18/2007 1:21:38 AM PDT by LibWhacker
Science Daily — For two generations of physicists, it has been a standard belief that the neutron, an electrically neutral elementary particle and a primary component of an atom, actually carries a positive charge at its center and an offsetting negative charge at its outer edge.
The notion was first put forth in 1947 by Enrico Fermi, a Nobel laureate noted for his role in developing the first nuclear reactor. But new research by a University of Washington physicist shows the neutron's charge is not quite as simple as Fermi believed.
Using precise data recently gathered at three different laboratories and some new theoretical tools, Gerald A. Miller, a UW physics professor, has found that the neutron has a negative charge both in its inner core and its outer edge, with a positive charge sandwiched in between to make the particle electrically neutral.
"Nobody realized this was the case," Miller said. "It is significant because it is a clear fact of nature that we didn't know before. Now we know it."
The discovery changes scientific understanding of how neutrons interact with negatively charged electrons and positively charged protons. Specifically, it has implications for understanding the strong force, one of the four fundamental forces of nature (the others are the weak force, electromagnetism and gravity).
The strong force binds atomic nuclei together, which makes it possible for atoms, the building blocks of all matter, to assemble into molecules.
"We have to understand exactly how the strong force works, because it is the strongest force we know in the universe," Miller said.
The findings are based on data collected at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News, Va., the Bates Linear Accelerator at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Mainz Microtron at Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany.
The three labs examine various aspects of the properties and behavior of subatomic particles, and Miller studied data they collected about neutrons. His analysis was published online Sept. 13 in Physical Review Letters. The work was funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Since the analysis is based on data gathered from direct observations, the picture could change even more as more data are collected, Miller said.
"A particle can be electrically neutral and still have properties related to charge. We've known for a long time that the neutron has those properties, but now we understand them more clearly," he said.
He noted that the most important aspect of the finding confirms that a neutron carries a negative charge at its outer edge, a key piece of Fermi's original idea.
The strong force that binds atomic nuclei is related to nuclear energy and nuclear weapons, and so it is possible the research could have practical applications in those areas.
It also could lend to greater understanding of the interactions that take place in our sun's nuclear furnace, and a greater understanding of the strong force in general, Miller said.
"We already know that without the strong force you wouldn't have atoms -- or anything else that follows from atoms," he said.
This research was published online Sept. 13 in Physical Review Letters. The work was funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy.
A neutron goes in a bar and orders a drink. He says “How much for the beer?” Bartender says, “For you? no charge.”
Let us also not forget the elemental particle undelying the liberal universe: the moron.
Yes, the moron is an elemental particle, but it’s effects are nullified by the ZION.................
Yeah, when I was a kid, I always like the creamy goodness better so it is obvious, now at least, that that would have the positive charge. A lot of times, at least until my mom or grandma figures out a way to stop me, I would just throw away those negative cookie parts.
Probably teaching me to dunk got me to eat the cookie part. Maybe there is a equivalent in the particle cookie world? Proton dunking.
Fascinating. BMFLR.
Physics: A Theory In Crisis.
Teach the controversy.
The three separate charges could look like a molecule and form something akin to bonds with nearby particles.
Just a thought.
Every particle is composed of quarks, which might have similar properties when particles come together.
Anti-God Newtonian apple-worshipers.
“Does this mean it hopes for the best, but plans for the worst?” ... or does it mean that neutrons formed when dimension time was in its first backlash from point present to linear future and back to point present, before bursting into our current unstable spacetime expansion (expanding for stability’s sake don’tchaknow)? Oh my, all the where/whens to find, how will we ever do it?
I'm way out of my element here, but this sounds like an NPN transistor.
-PJ
Fermi lied, neutrons died!
clear as mud.
1. Neutron "Oreoists" are just deniers in the pay of Big Oil.
2. We have modified our terminology to refer to "Macro-uncharged nuclear particles" instead of "Neutrons." When you hear "Neutrons" it is probably some Oreoist with an agenda.
Fermi didn’t lie, he pioneered the knowledge which has grown off of his work to this discovery. There maybe more power in the atom that we have not harnessed yet.
bump
> So...The neutron is, essentially, an Oreo. Interesting.
I guess that makes it a politically incorrect particle.
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