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Physics: Proton radius smaller than believed, European scientists say
LA Times ^
| July 7, 2010
| Thomas H. Maugh II
Posted on 07/07/2010 9:06:34 PM PDT by smokingfrog
Sophisticated measurements from experiments indicate the radius is 4% smaller than thought. If true, the finding could have major ramifications for the standard model used in modern physics.
Physicists might have to rethink what they know about, well, everything.
European researchers dropped a potential bombshell on their colleagues around the world Wednesday by reporting that sophisticated new measurements indicate the radius of the proton is 4% smaller than previously believed.
In a world where measurements out to a dozen or more decimal places are routine, a 4% difference in this subatomic particle found in every atom's nucleus is phenomenally large, and the finding has left theoreticians scratching their heads in wonderment and confusion.
If the startling results are confirmed, a possibility that at least some physicists think is unlikely because the calculations involved are so difficult, they could have major ramifications for the so-called standard model on which most modern physics is based.
In an editorial accompanying the report in the journal Nature, physicist Jeff Flowers of the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, England, said there were three possibilities: Either the experimenters have made a mistake, the calculations used in determining the size of the proton are wrong or, potentially most exciting and disturbing, the standard model has some kind of problem.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: physics; proton; protonradius; protons; science; standardmodel; stringtheory
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To: tet68
are you saying you don't fit the standard model?
if so, please turn yourself in at the nearest government medical facility.
41
posted on
07/07/2010 9:55:20 PM PDT
by
J Edgar
To: smokingfrog
The peanut shape is produced by quarks traveling nearly at light speed and spinning the same direction as the proton.
42
posted on
07/07/2010 9:55:24 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The Last Boy Scout)
To: coon2000
In reality we were all sneezed out of the nose of the Great Green Arkelsiezure, and you will all pay during the coming of the great white hankerchief
43
posted on
07/07/2010 9:58:30 PM PDT
by
Mr. K
(Physically unable to proofread- I swear I try!)
To: dr_who
Actually, protons are shaped like soccer balls.Do the neutrons look like this?
44
posted on
07/07/2010 9:59:25 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The Last Boy Scout)
To: smokingfrog
Sophisticated measurements from experiments indicate the radius is 4% smaller than thought. What? This cannot be true! If I'd have known this five minutes ago...never mind. We've got a really big problem but I think I can fix it. Can someone fetch me a #5 left handed monkeywrench, 13 rolls of duct tape and a purple gimp mask?
45
posted on
07/07/2010 9:59:31 PM PDT
by
Grizzled Bear
(Does not play well with others)
To: Quix
It's all done with lasers and some very sophisticated equipment.
">
46
posted on
07/07/2010 10:00:45 PM PDT
by
smokingfrog
( - Eccl. 10:18 -)
To: smokingfrog
Maybe protons are shrinking due to global warming, obviously George W. Bush’s fault.
47
posted on
07/07/2010 10:02:04 PM PDT
by
USNBandit
(sarcasm engaged at all times)
To: Salamander
Ill *never* be the same again. Not even if we get you a new pair of fishnet stockings?
48
posted on
07/07/2010 10:02:38 PM PDT
by
Grizzled Bear
(Does not play well with others)
To: Mr. K
All of us small blue creatures, with 50 arms each, and who invented deodorant before the wheel?
I have to dig out “Restaurant” when I get home.
49
posted on
07/07/2010 10:02:38 PM PDT
by
Darth Tokarev
(Liberalism: Using intellectualism to justify moral cowardice.)
To: dangus; Hoodat
But the amount of space it takes up is spherical because it moves at high speed. Its actually a wave.Take any point on a sphere, and roll the sphere along a path.
The trace of the point will make a wave on a chart.
Now, that has absolutely nothing to do this, of course.
50
posted on
07/07/2010 10:03:47 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The Last Boy Scout)
To: smokingfrog
Wow! That contraption has TWO steering wheels!
51
posted on
07/07/2010 10:04:47 PM PDT
by
coloradan
(The US has become a banana republic, except without the bananas - or the republic.)
To: dangus
and Id be lying if I told you I understood it.That remark alone proves you are more intelligent than most of us. And a darn sight more honest.
52
posted on
07/07/2010 10:06:34 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The Last Boy Scout)
To: NicknamedBob
It is a well-known fact that it has a lot of surface tension. Must be what makes everyone so uptight.
53
posted on
07/07/2010 10:09:23 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The Last Boy Scout)
To: Army Air Corps
However, a proton is still larger than Obummers brain.
54
posted on
07/07/2010 10:11:04 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The Last Boy Scout)
To: NicknamedBob
Hydrogen atom walks into a bar, says, “Gimme a beer, I’m kind of down. I lost my electron.” Bartender says, “Are you sure?” Hydrogen atom says, “I’m positive.”
Is this thing working?
55
posted on
07/07/2010 10:14:37 PM PDT
by
Chaguito
To: dr_lew
Atomic spectroscopy measures transitions of the electrons between orbits in the atom, and does not depend on the details of structure of the proton.More or less the same way they detect planets orbiting distant stars.
56
posted on
07/07/2010 10:14:37 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The Last Boy Scout)
To: lefty-lie-spy
but a few quarks can still be any shape you want them to be.That sounds strange.
57
posted on
07/07/2010 10:16:24 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The Last Boy Scout)
To: smokingfrog
I think it best we not tell Al Gore about this.
58
posted on
07/07/2010 10:17:03 PM PDT
by
eclecticEel
(Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 7/4/1776 - 3/21/2010)
To: UCANSEE2
I don’t think so. Not a sine wave, anyway. The point will move more slowly when it’s near the bottom, and more quickly near the top, resulting in something more like a series of hops than a sine wave.
59
posted on
07/07/2010 10:17:14 PM PDT
by
dangus
To: smokingfrog
Or, if the Rydberg constant is correct, the smaller size of a proton could mean the equations in QED theory will fail to work. That's ok. We'll just make up a new theory.
60
posted on
07/07/2010 10:19:34 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The Last Boy Scout)
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