At 10:54 am 17-03-05 -0800, Jones wrote: > In cosmology, we find ample evidence that > supports the idea of matter can be composed > of multiple neutrons: neutron stars. > > Zero protons, only neutrons, supposedly. > > These dense bodies, which contain an enormous > number of bound neutrons, suggest that as yet > unexplained forces come into play when neutrons > gather en masse. But how small can they get? and > could they be something else? > > four? hydrinos? > > or... why worry? according to Sci-Am, physics > is complete, no? > > "Tetraneutrons" > > from: the New Scientist article: > "13 things that do not make sense" BTW at # 13 is CF > http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18524911.600 > > FOUR years ago, a particle accelerator in France detected > six particles called " tetraneutrons" : four neutrons > that are bound together in a way that defies the laws > of physics, and should not exist. > > Francisco Miguel Marqu�s and colleagues at the Ganil > accelerator in Caen are now gearing up to do it again. > If they succeed, these clusters may oblige us to rethink > the forces that hold atomic nuclei together...and that > will "raise some Cain" in the physics establishment. > > Jones
I have often mused as to what would happen if one continued the chart of the nuclides on to much high numbers of nucleons. Eventually the neutrons would dominate and one can visualize a huge atom constituting of a core of neutrons with a layer of protons at the surface which in turn is surrounded by a layer of electrons forming a kind of atmosphere. Now there are supposed to be "islands of stability" beyond the elements known to *Harvaard*. Perhaps neutron stars are examples of one of the islands on a very large scale. Cheers Frank Grimer
