The infamous “neutron puzzle” can finally have a solution, but this includes invisible atoms

When you buy through our articles links, Future and its syndication partners can earn commissions.

Can exist a mysterious second taste of hydrogen atoms-that interacts with light-offering new theoretical examination, and it could take into account Particular physics;

The secret known as a neutron puzzle revolves around two experimental methods whose results disagree with the average life expectancy of free neutrons – those not bound in atomic kernels – before making three other particles: protons, electrons and electrons and Neutrins;

“There were two types of experiments to measure neutrons life”. EugeneAuburn University physicist and the only author of a new study published in the magazine Nuclear physics bsaid direct science by email. In the letter.

Two methods are called fiber and bottle. In experiments, scientists calculate protons left immediately after the decomposition of neutrons. In other methods, bottle experiments, especially cold neutrons, are trapped and left to decomposition, and the remaining neutrons are calculated after the experimental running ended-it is simply between 100 and 1,1000 seconds, with many such runs under various conditions

These two methods produce results that vary in about 10 seconds: fiber experiments measure neutrons for 888 seconds, while bottle experiments indicate 878 seconds – a discrepancy that goes beyond experimental uncertainty. “It was a puzzle,” Ox said.

Puzzle solution … with invisible atoms

In its study, OCD suggests that life expectancy is due to the fact that the neutron sometimes breaks down with two particles, but only two: the hydrogen atom and neutrin. Because the hydrogen atom is electrically neutral, it can pass through the detector unnoticed, resulting in a false impression that fewer decays occur than expected.

Although in the past this two-body decay regime has been proposed in theory, it is estimated that it is very rare in only about 4 of each million degradation. OCD says this rating has been dramatically terminated because previous calculations did not take into account the more exotic possibility: that most of these two decays of these two bodies cause a second, unrecognized taste of hydrogen atom. And, unlike regular hydrogen, these atoms do not communicate with light.

“They do not exclude or absorb electromagnetic radiation, they remain dark,” Oks explained. This would make them unidentified traditional instruments that depend on the light to find and explore atoms.

Related: How many atoms are in the observed universe?

What distinguishes this second taste? Most importantly, this type of hydrogen electron is much more prone to the central proton than in conventional atoms, and is completely resistant to electromagnetic forces that make common atoms.

Invisible hydrogen would be difficult to detect. “The likelihood that the atomic electron is close to the proton is several sizes larger than the simple hydrogen atoms,” Oks added.

This strange nuclear behavior stems from a peculiar resolution of the Dirac equation – the main equation Quantum physics This describes how electrons behave. These decisions are usually considered non -filled, but OCD says that when the fact that the protons have a finite size are considered, these unusually decisions begin to meaningfully and describe precisely defined particles.

When considering the second flavor of the hydrogen, OK calculates that the speed of two bodies can be reinforced by approximately 3,000 factor. This would increase their frequency by about 1% of all neutron degradation – enough to explain the gap between fiber and bottle experiments. “The increase in two physique decomposition has provided a coefficient of approximately 3,000 quantitative neutron life puzzle resolution,” he said.

That’s not all. Invisible hydrogen atoms can also solve another cosmic secret: Identity Dark matterAn unseen material, which is believed to be mostly in the universe of these days.

A 2020 InvestigationOK showed that if these invisible atoms were abundant in the early universe, they could explain the unexpected fall of ancient hydrogen radio signals that astronomers observe. Since then, he said that these atoms may be the dominant form of Baryonic dark material – a substance made of known particles such as protons and neutrons, but in a form that is difficult to detect.

“The taste of the second flavor of the hydrogen atoms, like Baryonic dark substances, is a favorable condition for the Occamo razor principle,” OCE said, mentioning that the simplest explanation is often the best. “The second taste of hydrogen atoms based on standard quantum mechanics does not exceed Standard model particle physics ”.

In other words, there is no need to exotic new particles or materials to explain the dark material – this is just a new interpretation of the atoms we think we understood.

Testing of a new theory

OCE is now working with experimentalists to test his theory. In the National Laboratory of Los Alama in New Mexico, the team hosts an experiment based on two basic ideas. First, both hydrogen flavors can be excited using electron fibers. Secondly, after excitement, regular hydrogen atoms can be removed using a laser or electric field – leaving only invisible. A similar experiment is also held in Germany Forschungszentrum Jülich, at the National Research Institute near Garching.

Related stories

—Dark MATTER may have its “invisible” periodic element table

—Scientists could finally find where the “missing side of the universe” was hiding

— Scientists are one step closer to knowing the mass of ghostly neutrins – perhaps preparing the way to a new physics

The bets of these tests are large. “If you succeed, the experiment could produce results this year,” Oks said. “Success would be a very significant breakthrough in both particle physics and dark substances in research.”

In the future, the OCD plans to investigate whether other nuclear systems can also have two flavors, potentially opening the door to even more surprising discoveries. And if it is confirmed, such conclusions could also change our understanding of space history.

“The exact value of neutrons operating time is the main amount of hydrogen, helium and other light elements that have been formed in the first minutes of the universe life,” Oks said. Thus, his proposal not only solves the long-term puzzle-he could rewrite the earliest cosmic evolution department.