Existence of neutronium is possible in theory. If so, one can take a particle of neutronium, add certain number of protons + orbiting electrons and observe thereby small supermassive atom.
Gravitation forces between the nuclons may be weak in comparison to electrostatic ones (if the number of protons is the great). But there will be nuclear forces compensating electrostatic repulsion.
Neutronium should be very radioactive in interactions with usual matter. The gravitational atoms may be not radioactive because of many orbiting electrons, they should have strong penetrating ability only.
Please explain or give a reference to what you mean by neutronium outside science-fiction. A single isolated neutron is unstable. A lot of neutrons can be stable with gravitational force as a neutron star.
It may be scientifically considered as stable piece of neutron's matter (bonded neutrons). Gravitational forces between neutrons may be large enough for bonding and stabilization at microscopic level (hypothesis).
The minimum neutron star mass is about 0.1 solar mass, according to Lattimer & Prakash (2016,), Physics Reports, Volume 621, p. 127-164. Below this mass the neutrons decay into protons and electrons faster than the protons and electrons recombine by gravity.
Is it their hypothesis? Such a theory without concretics does not satisfy falsification criterium.
It is a theory based on well known checked physics (such as the neutron lifetime). At this stage the best found falsification check is to look for neutron stars with a mass smaller than the minimum mass, and none even approaching the minimum mass has been found. Nobody has even started thinking how to assembe enough neutrons in less than 8 min so that gravity stabilises them, but if you find a method you are welcome.
Experimental astrophysicists are working on this topic. And a neutron star is natural object. The method may lie in condensation of ultracold neutrons. Small pieces of neutronium and supermassive atoms probably may be neatly produced in specific laboratory conditions in future.
You wrote "Existence of neutronium is possible in theory" and "Experimental astrophysicists are working on this topic". Can you give references ?
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Physical Sciences
- Theoretical Physics