Can Electrons and Protons Fuse to Form Neutrons?

[HarryWertM]

1a. Is possible for an electron and a proton to fuse?

1b. If yes, do you get a neutron?

2. What PREVENTS protons and electrons fusing together in plasma [like in tokamak]?

-Harry Wertmuller

 

[malawi_glenn]

1.a Yes

1.b Yes, we get a neutron and a neutrino. This is called electron capture

2. I'll leave that til an expert in plasma physics (since I am not one of those) :-)

 

[Astronuc]

A 'free' neutron is unstable with respect to beta decay, i.e. a neutron by itself will decay into a proton, beta and anti-neutrino, so the reverse action is unlikely. I suspect that electron capture may occur very rarely.

EC does happen in certain proton-rich (neutron deficient) radionuclides, and typically it is a K-electron which is absorbed. In plasmas, the ions and electrons have kinetic energies much, much greater than the binding energy of electrons (in the light elements). At lower energies, electrons recombine with ions to form neutral atoms, which then leak out of plasmas.

Protons (or more generally ions) and electrons interact in plasma, mostly by scattering or producing bremsstrahlung radiation, the latter of which results in energy loss from the plasma.

Fusion plasmas are likely to be D+D or D+T. D+³He would be preferable since it's an aneutronic reaction, but it requires higher temperatures (with concommitant pressure for a given particle density) and ³He is extremely rare (and thus very expensive). He-3 can be obtained from the beta decay of T (H-3).

Proton-proton fusion has a very low cross-section, and is the basis of one fusion process in stars - PP fusion or PP-chain.
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr162/lect/energy/ppchain.html

Otherwise, there are more exotic reaction like p + ¹¹B -> 3 ⁴He, but that requires significantly higher temperature than D+D or D+T.

p + p -> d + e⁺ + 1.4 MeV, but
p + d -> ³He + gamma + 5.5 MeV

 

[genneth]

1a. Is possible for an electron and a proton to fuse?

1b. If yes, do you get a neutron?

2. What PREVENTS protons and electrons fusing together in plasma [like in tokamak]?

-Harry Wertmuller

1a. Yes

1b. Yes, and also a neutrino.

2. The interaction cross-section is *very* small --- the reaction is mediated by the weak force, which is not called the weak force for nothing.

 

[HarryWertM]

Hmmm.. Astronuc wrote: "EC does happen in certain ... neutron deficient radionuclides and typically it is a K electron..."

Q: Can you describe or cite experiment where EC happens or happened?

Q: What is K electron? Lowest energy orbit in Hydrogen? So then does probability of EC INCREASE if they make one of those "Bose-Einstein" condensates using deuterium-free hydrogen?

 

[humanino]

Q: Can you describe or cite experiment where EC happens or happened?

Are you questioning the possibility that it happens ?
You can search Google for many peer-reviewed publications.

Q: What is K electron? Lowest energy orbit in Hydrogen? So then does probability of EC INCREASE if they make one of those "Bose-Einstein" condensates using deuterium-free hydrogen?

A K-electron is indeed one in the lowest shell. But hydrogen is irrelevant for neutron capture. Here you want larger nuclei isotopes with too many protons, but such that beta+ decay (positron emission) is forbidden.

Electron capture

 

[Astronuc]

Hmmm.. Astronuc wrote: "EC does happen in certain ... neutron deficient radionuclides and typically it is a K electron..."

Q: Can you describe or cite experiment where EC happens or happened?

Q: What is K electron? Lowest energy orbit in Hydrogen? So then does probability of EC INCREASE if they make one of those "Bose-Einstein" condensates using deuterium-free hydrogen?

http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/chart/ has a listing of all radionuclides and decay modes. Click on a location on the chart and select Zoom 1 at the top right of the chart.

The isotopes above or to the right of the black squares (stable elements) are proton-rich (neutron deficient) and preferentially decay by EC (electron capture, or K-capture), or in some cases positron emission. The further away the radionuclide is from the line of stability (black squares) the more rare it is, and usually it has a very short half-life.

Electron capture is dependent on nuclear properties, and should not be dramatically affected by the chemical form (BEC), i.e. BEC would not increase probability of EC in H, or D, or whatever.

 

[HarryWertM]

Astronuc; Humanino; Thank you. Did not THINK of Googling. Did not know "ELECTRON CAPTURE" were the magic words.

Google results yield another problem -- us civilians do not have access to and/or cannot afford sources like Physical Review Letters.

Nuclides chart is really impressive. Thanks again.

 

[humanino]

Google results yield another problem -- us civilians do not have access to and/or cannot afford sources like Physical Review Letters.

That's true unfortunately. However, most recent articles are available for free on arXiv. In addition, if you go to a university librairy for instance, you can find those articles printed.