Questions on Protons

[barrykirk]

I'm not sure that this is the correct forum for posting this question. It is Ask the Astronomer, not ask the Physcist.<br /><br />Any case, a single proton is relatively stable.<br /><br />A single neutron is also relatively stable except for the weak force decays.<br /><br />A proton and a neutron can form a stable pair called a deutron.<br /><br />But, I've never heard of a two proton, ( Helium 2 ? ), or a 2 neutron pair.<br /><br />Why is that?

 

[vogon13]

Two protons need the little extra cling provided by the neutron's strong nuclear force to hang around each other.<br /><br />Helium 3 remains the lightest nucleus 'ceptin' H and D.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[docm]

The Interacting Boson Model (IBM) allows nucleons (protons or neutrons) to pair up, acting as a single particle with boson properties. They have an integral spin of 0, 2 or 4.<br /><br />IBM-1 treats protons and neutrons the same with the resulting particles (s & d bosons) having a total angular momentum of 0 or 2 respectively.<br /><br />Helium 3's protons are paired in this manner.<br /><br />Another pairing is thought to be the dineutron; an intermediate decay product when helions (helium nuclei) interact. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>