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cybernomad
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If not why not?
Made of the right isotope, it might work for a while. But eventually the neutrons will be absorbed by the atoms of the container.DaveC426913 said:But could they literally be bottled? Why would an ordinary container not hold them?
Yeah yeah Smartypants. We're not looking for a logical debate about semantics, we're looking for illumination on physics.tmc said:if you place a giant bottle around a neutron star, you will have bottled neutrons.
Therefore, this is possible.
Would the atoms of the container then be isotopic and radioactive? That being the case, would they eventually emit their neutrons again (OK, after zillions of years)?Gokul43201 said:Made of the right isotope, it might work for a while. But eventually the neutrons will be absorbed by the atoms of the container.
Physics Monkey said:I think you have in mind more the situation in the heart of a neutron star.
Well the half-life is ~865 seconds - 15 minutes.DaveC426913 said:Could it exist for any practical duration at room temp.?
And while we're at it, what properties would a jar of electrons have?
cybernomad said:If not why not?
I would think that a population of neutrons mixed in with liquid He-4 is simply a solution of neutrons in a liquid. I doubt that the number of neutrons is anywhere near the number of He atoms. My guess would be something like 1 n for about 1018 He atoms - and I am probably an order of magnitude or two off.DaveC426913 said:OK, let's set aside the talk about superfluid helium for a moment.
What properties might a jar of neutrons have? A gas? Could it exist for any practical duration at room temp.?
vanesch said:But they can (if they are cold) ! We do it all the time over here in our institute.
My collegues from the cold neutron group have this bottle:
http://www.ill.fr/nfp/npp/Pf2.htm
The answer is , yes , and it is quite easy to do especially if you are anywhjere near a nuclear reactor ! Neutrons seprated from the nucleus have a half life of about 12 mins. a proton and an electron and neutrino are the end result.Cybernomad said:Can neutrons be bottled?
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If not why not?
misskitty said:How is it that a single neutron decays into a proton, an electron, and a neutrino when the mass of the neutron is the same as that of a proton?
~Kitty
Realize that from an atomic standpoint the mass difference between a proton and neutron is small, and both are assigned 1 amu, but that is an approximation.misskitty said:How is it that a single neutron decays into a proton, an electron, and a neutrino when the mass of the neutron is the same as that of a proton?
~Kitty
cybernomad said:quick questions:
Would neutrons merely bounce off each other having no force between them?
What would the density (grams cm³)of the cold neutrons be under 1 G and 1 atmosphere?
cybernomad said:So let’s put it this way. If I has a gram of neutrons near absolute zero in a vacuum bottle what would its physical characteristics be? Now let’s ignore the half life for now and assume the neutrons are not absorbed into the walls of the container. My guess is that it will settle into some sort of ultra dense superfluid.
Anybody?
misskitty said:How is it that a single neutron decays into a proton, an electron, and a neutrino when the mass of the neutron is the same as that of a proton?
~Kitty
ZapperZ said:But I can already anticipate the follow-up question: Wasn't there already some report on fermionic condensate a few months back?
Neutrons are subatomic particles that have no electrical charge and are found in the nucleus of an atom. They are important because they play a crucial role in nuclear reactions and are essential for the stability of atoms.
Yes, neutrons can be confined and manipulated through a process called neutron moderation. This involves slowing down the high-speed neutrons by colliding them with other particles, such as hydrogen atoms, to reduce their energy and make them easier to control.
There are various methods used to confine and manipulate neutrons, such as magnetic confinement, electrostatic confinement, and inertial confinement. These methods involve using strong magnetic or electric fields, or high-energy laser beams, to trap and control the movement of neutrons.
Confining and manipulating neutrons is crucial in nuclear research because it allows scientists to study the properties and behavior of neutrons, which can provide valuable insights into the structure of matter and the fundamental forces of nature. It also helps in the development of new technologies, such as nuclear power and medical imaging.
Yes, there are several challenges in confining and manipulating neutrons. One of the main challenges is that neutrons are electrically neutral, making them difficult to control using traditional methods. Additionally, high-energy neutrons can be hazardous to handle, and the equipment needed to confine and manipulate them can be complex and expensive.