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Nuclear physics

Nuclear physics

Physicists propose new solution to the neutron lifetime puzzle

05 Nov 2024 Isabelle Dumé
Image showing a neutron (represented by a glowing ball of rainbow-coloured spheres) decaying (represented by a partial Feynman diagram for a decay into a proton, electron and antineutrino via the weak force). Puzzle pieces labelled with a neutron bottle and a neutron beam float nearby against a black background containing more puzzle pieces
Nuclear puzzle: In the nucleus, neutrons can be stable, but free neutrons decay after a short period. Exactly how short is in dispute because experiments on neutrons stored in bottles and neutrons in a beam give different answers. (Courtesy: Oliver Diekmann, TU Wien)
Neutrons inside the atomic nucleus are incredibly stable, but free neutrons decay within 15 minutes

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Isabelle Dumé is a contributing editor to Physics World
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