The Neutron – EthnoPhysics

Outline

A Seed Model of the Neutron

Neutrons are represented by this collage of seed icons.

EthnoPhysics describes neutrons starting with the simplified familial pattern of seeds shown on the left. All neutrons are built up around this kernel. And it distinguishes the neutrons from other particle families. But to be more exact, the full bundle of sensation objectified as a neutron is; eight right-side and eight left-side lateral feelings; six burning, two freezing and four warm thermal perceptions, and finally, four black visual impressions.

Any Anaxagorean sensation may be reified to define a seed. So to make a seed aggregate model for the neutron we express $\mathsf{\Omega}$ as a bundle of 32 seeds. These seeds are symbolized by upper-case Roman letters; $\mathsf{D}$ notes a down-seed. $\mathsf{B}$ marks a bottom-seed, etc. Thus we represent the neutron as

$\mathsf{\Omega} ( \textsf{\textit{n}} ) \leftrightarrow \mathrm{4}\mathsf{D} + \mathrm{6}\mathsf{T} + \mathrm{2}\mathsf{B} + \mathrm{4}\mathsf{C} + \mathrm{8}\mathsf{O} + \mathrm{8}\overline{\mathsf{O}}$

A Quark Model of the Neutron

Quarks are defined by pairs of seeds. So the seed-aggregate model of the proton is further developed by associating seeds in pairs to form the following quarks

→

A neutron can then be represented by a bundle of 16 quarks. Here is a symbolic way of expressing the arrangement

$\mathsf{\Omega} ( \textsf{\textit{n}} ) \leftrightarrow \mathrm{4}\mathsf{d} + \mathrm{6}\overline{\mathsf{t}} + \mathrm{2}\overline{\mathsf{b}} + \mathrm{4}\mathsf{c}$

Using these quarks, the mass of a neutron, written as $m_{\mathsf{n}} \hspace{0.5pt} ,$ is calculated to have exactly the same value as observed experimentally . This is because $m_{\mathsf{n}}$ presents an essential fact about the human environment. So it has been meticulously integrated into the EthnoPhysics description of human experience. Adjustable parameters like quark energies have been methodically selected to obtain accuracy.

The Core of a Neutron

All quark-coefficients are integer multiples of two in the foregoing neutron model. So similar quarks can be matched in pairs. But we cannot have two identical quarks in the same particle and still satisfy Pauli’s exclusion principle. So models are developed further with a requirement that paired quarks are out of phase with each other. This is noted by marking the phase of a quark using a subscript like $\mathsf{q_{\mdsmwhtcircle}}$ or $\mathsf{q_{\mdsmblkcircle}} \hspace{0.5pt} .$

Sets of quarks having all the same phase are called phase components of the neutron. And since quarks are matched one-to-one, we say that these components have phase symmetry with each other. Mathematically, phase-symmetry is symbolized using $\mathcal{S}$ to note a phase-component. Thus the core of a neutron is defined as

$\mathsf{\Omega} ( \textsf{\textit{n}} ) \equiv \left\{ \mathcal{S}_{\mdsmwhtcircle} \hspace{0.8pt} , \, \mathcal{S}_{\mdsmblkcircle} \rule{0px}{12px} \right\} \hspace{10px} \text{\sf{where}}$

$\mathcal{S}_{\mdsmblkcircle} ( \textsf{\textit{n}} ) \equiv \left\{ \left\{ \hspace{1px} \overline{\mathsf{t}}_{\mdsmblkcircle}, \, \mathsf{c}_{\mdsmblkcircle} \right\}, \left\{ \hspace{1px} \overline{\mathsf{t}}_{\mdsmblkcircle}, \, \mathsf{d}_{\mdsmblkcircle} \right\}, \overline{\mathsf{t}}_{\mdsmblkcircle}, \, \mathsf{c}_{\mdsmblkcircle}, \, \mathsf{d}_{\mdsmblkcircle}, \, \overline{\mathsf{b}}_{\mdsmblkcircle} \rule{0px}{12px} \right\}$

$\mathcal{S}_{\mdsmwhtcircle} ( \textsf{\textit{n}} ) \equiv \left\{ \left\{ \hspace{1px} \overline{\mathsf{t}}_{\mdsmwhtcircle}, \, \mathsf{c}_{\mdsmwhtcircle} \right\}, \left\{ \hspace{1px} \overline{\mathsf{t}}_{\mdsmwhtcircle}, \, \mathsf{d}_{\mdsmwhtcircle} \right\}, \overline{\mathsf{t}}_{\mdsmwhtcircle}, \, \mathsf{c}_{\mdsmwhtcircle}, \, \mathsf{d}_{\mdsmwhtcircle}, \, \overline{\mathsf{b}}_{\mdsmwhtcircle} \rule{0px}{12px} \right\}$

This definition explicitly shows that all quarks are distinct. They can each be distinguished by their quark-type, their phase, or by association with other quarks in unique nested sets.

Neutron Lifetime

The temperature of a neutron core is found from the average temperature of its component quarks to be 123.1228 (K). This gives a calculated mean life of 879.7 (s), which is within experimental uncertainty of the observed¹K.A. Olive et al. Particle Data Group Review of Particle Physics, Chin. Phys. C, 38, 090001 (2014). value of 880.3 ± 1.1 (s).

Rotating Neutrons

Neutrons have a total angular-momentum quantum-number of $\textsl{\textsf{J}} \hspace{1px} ( \text{\textsf{\textit{n}}} ) \! = \! 1 \! /2 \hspace{0.5pt} .$ They are rotating. But the handedness of this rotation has not been specified in the foregoing discussion. So for logically complete descriptions, models are developed further by including some field-quanta called stereoisomers that are made out of stereochemical quarks. These tiny stereoisomers each have a distinct handedness that is then attributed to the neutron. To be more exact, here is an elementary stereoisomer that is left-handed

S $\equiv \hspace{2px} \left\{ \, \overline{\mathbf{d}}_{\mdsmblkcircle}, \, \overline{\mathbf{d}}_{ \mdsmwhtcircle}, \left\{ \overline{\mathbf{d}}_{\mdsmblkcircle}, \, \overline{\mathbf{d}}_{ \mdsmwhtcircle} \right\} \rule{0px}{14px} \right\}$

And here is its right-handed conjugate-twin

S $\equiv \left\{ \, \mathbf{d}_{\mdsmblkcircle}, \, \mathbf{d}_{ \mdsmwhtcircle}, \left\{ \mathbf{d}_{\mdsmblkcircle}, \, \mathbf{d}_{ \mdsmwhtcircle} \right\} \rule{0px}{12px} \right\}$

The dextro quarks in these quanta are marked using $\mathbf{d}$ in a bold serified font. Please notice that this is different from $\mathsf{d}$ which was used earlier to symbolize down-quarks. Lefty stereoisomers made from levo quarks are marked by Z and Z.

Stereoisomers have an internal-energy of about $10^{-7}$ (MeV) which is usually negligible. So levo-quarks and dextro-quarks are typically overlooked in most descriptions. But for detailed analysis we may note small variations in rotation using diacritical accents.

$\hat{\textsf{\textit{n}}} \equiv$ { $\textsf{\textit{n}} ,$ S}

$\acute{\textsf{\textit{n}}} \equiv$ { $\textsf{\textit{n}} ,$ S}

$\grave{\textsf{\textit{n}}} \equiv$ { $\textsf{\textit{n}} ,$ Z}

$\mathring{\textsf{\textit{n}}} \equiv$ { $\textsf{\textit{n}} ,$ Z}

All stereoisomers are defined from four stereochemical-quarks. So logically complete models of neutrons that use stereoisomers require at least 16 quarks. Here is a limited selection from among the many possibilities.

This table summarizes the quark-coefficients of a neutron-core, along with a dozen minor rotational variations. A neutron-core cannot satisfy the semantic selection-rule by itself. So a ground-state neutron-model is identified as the variation with the lowest mass and least angular-momentum. There are also three chemically-excited states that have either odd-parity or are right-handed. Finally, each stereochemical variant has a couple more states that are optically-excited by absorbing one of the dark photons $\boldsymbol{\! \gamma}^{\text{\ding{70}}}$ or $\boldsymbol{\gamma}_{\mathsf{D}} \hspace{1px} .$

These nuances are so subtle that the calculated-mass for any of them falls within experimental uncertainty of the neutron’s experimentally observed mass

$m_{\mathsf{n}} \hspace{2px} = \hspace{2px} 939.565 \; 379 \hspace{2px} \pm \hspace{2px} 0.000 \; 021 \hspace{10px} \textsf{(MeV/c}^{2} \textsf{)}$

In practice, they all have the same mass. Moreover, the quark-models for these particles all give identical values for the neutron charge and baryon-number. So we do not make too much distinction between them. The symbol $\textsf{\textit{n}}$ may be casually used for any of these rotating neutrons. Indeed, we often suppose that ‘a neutron’ can change its angular-momentum, handedness or parity, while still remaining ‘the same’ neutron.

A Ground-State Model of the Neutron

Here is our preferred model for $\hat{\textsf{\textit{n}}} \hspace{1px},$ a neutron in its ground state. It is a full definition that specifies all quarks including their phases.

$\mathsf{\Omega} ( \hat{\textsf{\textit{n}}} ) \equiv \left\{ \mathcal{S}_{\mdsmwhtcircle} \hspace{0.8pt} , \, \mathcal{S}_{\mdsmblkcircle} \rule{0px}{12px} \right\} \hspace{10px} \text{\sf{where}}$

$\mathcal{S}_{\mdsmblkcircle} ( \hat{\textsf{\textit{n}}} ) \equiv \left\{ \left\{ \hspace{1px} \overline{\mathsf{t}}_{\mdsmblkcircle}, \, \mathsf{c}_{\mdsmblkcircle} \rule{0px}{12px} \right\}, \left\{ \hspace{1px} \overline{\mathsf{t}}_{\mdsmblkcircle}, \, \mathsf{d}_{\mdsmblkcircle} , \, \overline{\mathbf{d}}_{\mdsmblkcircle} \right\}, \overline{\mathsf{t}}_{\mdsmblkcircle}, \, \mathsf{c}_{\mdsmblkcircle}, \, \mathsf{d}_{\mdsmblkcircle}, \, \overline{\mathsf{b}}_{\mdsmblkcircle} , \, \overline{\mathbf{d}}_{\mdsmblkcircle} \rule{0px}{14px} \right\}$

$\mathcal{S}_{\mdsmwhtcircle} ( \hat{\textsf{\textit{n}}} ) \equiv \left\{ \left\{ \hspace{1px} \overline{\mathsf{t}}_{\mdsmwhtcircle}, \, \mathsf{c}_{\mdsmwhtcircle} \rule{0px}{12px} \right\}, \left\{ \hspace{1px} \overline{\mathsf{t}}_{\mdsmwhtcircle}, \, \mathsf{d}_{\mdsmwhtcircle} , \, \overline{\mathbf{d}}_{\mdsmwhtcircle} \right\}, \overline{\mathsf{t}}_{\mdsmwhtcircle}, \, \mathsf{c}_{\mdsmwhtcircle}, \, \mathsf{d}_{\mdsmwhtcircle}, \, \overline{\mathsf{b}}_{\mdsmwhtcircle} , \, \overline{\mathbf{d}}_{\mdsmwhtcircle} \rule{0px}{14px} \right\}$

This definition explicitly shows that all quarks are distinct. They can each be distinguished by their quark-type, their phase, or by association with other quarks in unique nested sets. These quark-coefficients determine that $\hat{\textsf{\textit{n}}} \hspace{1px},$ is levorotatory, left-handed, has even-parity and is made of ordinary-matter.

Nucleon Resonances

Experimental physicists have observed some exceptionally short-lived ‘particles’ that are like neutrons but with more mass. They are marked by the letter $\text{\textsf{\textit{N}}} ,$ and called nucleon resonances. We model these phenomena as a neutron-core excited by the addition of various leptonic quarks.

Laboratory reports specifically identify the parity of each resonance. This is noted by the small + or – signs in their names. The parity is defined from stereochemical-quarks, so models of these resonances must include some dextro or levo quarks. Here is a table of definitive quark-coefficients.

The foregoing quark-models completely determine the intrinsic character of these excited neutrons. Their charge, angular momentum, baryon-number, lepton-number and strangeness are all correct. The models also produce accurate descriptions of their mass. Experimentally observed values are obtained from the Particle Data Group.

However, the matter-type is not correct for 5 of the 18 resonances, as noted by red lettering in the table. That is, five particles with a positive baryon-number are erroneously identified as anti-matter. We think that this is due to a faulty choice of leptonic-quarks in the models. They are close enough to get the right mass, but still wrong.

Neutron Calculations

Here is a spreadsheet that shows a step-by-step calculation of some neutron characteristics. For more detail about cell contents and formulae, click the download link at the bottom of the sheet. Then you can enter other quark-coefficients in the yellow cells to assess different particle models.

Download [765 KB]

This spreadsheet shows that $\textsf{\textit{n}}$ is technically a one-dimensional particle. In quark-space, it is a line segment parallel to the central-axis. But the line is extremely short. So we usually think of a neutron-core as a pointy particle. Because of this shape, $\textsf{\textit{n}}$ carries no electromagnetic potential-energy. And almost no work is required to bring together its component quarks.

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References
1	K.A. Olive et al. Particle Data Group Review of Particle Physics, Chin. Phys. C, 38, 090001 (2014).