It is well established that an electron and a proton carry equal and opposite charges. Consequently, it follows that multi-electron atoms must have an equal number of electrons and protons to maintain the atom's neutrality. The nucleus is extremely small in comparison to the atom as a whole—roughly one one-hundred-thousandth of the atom's size. To put this into perspective, if the nucleus were the size of a cricket ball (approximately 10 cm), the outermost electrons would be about 5 kilometers away. This prompts the question: How do the protons remain together in such close proximity within the nucleus, given that like-charged particles typically repel each other? The answer lies in the strong nuclear force, mediated by virtual particles called gluons.
An intriguing follow-up question arises: If the nucleus is stabilized through the exchange of virtual particles, why doesn't this same principle apply to the stability of the atom as a whole? The answer to this question is that when wave-particle duality was introduced around 1927, virtual particles had not yet been discovered. It wasn’t until 1947 that Lamb and Retherford observed these virtual particles.
A further question then follows: Why did quantum mechanics not integrate the discovery of virtual particles into its theory of atomic structure? The answer, perhaps unexpectedly, is that quantum mechanics as it stands is fundamentally rooted in the principles of wave-particle duality and the wave function. This framework has been applied, albeit with limitations, to a range of phenomena—from photon absorption and emission to electric current flow and light propagation. To propose that virtual photon exchange governs atomic stability would have necessitated a radical revision of quantum mechanics, which might have destabilized the theory's overall structure.
Another, obvious question is even taking for granted the fact that proponents of quantum mechanics did not like to amend their theory, how did they prevent anyone else from speculating about possible revisions or changes to quantum mechanics. The probable answer is firm support from both the Government and Academia. Here is a link to my paper :”Augmented Newtonian Dynamics (AND) on Science vs Dogma”.
Augmented Newtonian Dynamics by re-examining the working of the very very small (sub-atomic) on its own terms, transitions smoothly from the macro to the micro without encountering the slightest hindrance.
An intriguing follow-up question arises: If the nucleus is stabilized through the exchange of virtual particles, why doesn't this same principle apply to the stability of the atom as a whole? The answer to this question is that when wave-particle duality was introduced around 1927, virtual particles had not yet been discovered. It wasn’t until 1947 that Lamb and Retherford observed these virtual particles.
A further question then follows: Why did quantum mechanics not integrate the discovery of virtual particles into its theory of atomic structure? The answer, perhaps unexpectedly, is that quantum mechanics as it stands is fundamentally rooted in the principles of wave-particle duality and the wave function. This framework has been applied, albeit with limitations, to a range of phenomena—from photon absorption and emission to electric current flow and light propagation. To propose that virtual photon exchange governs atomic stability would have necessitated a radical revision of quantum mechanics, which might have destabilized the theory's overall structure.
Another, obvious question is even taking for granted the fact that proponents of quantum mechanics did not like to amend their theory, how did they prevent anyone else from speculating about possible revisions or changes to quantum mechanics. The probable answer is firm support from both the Government and Academia. Here is a link to my paper :”Augmented Newtonian Dynamics (AND) on Science vs Dogma”.
Augmented Newtonian Dynamics by re-examining the working of the very very small (sub-atomic) on its own terms, transitions smoothly from the macro to the micro without encountering the slightest hindrance.
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