Study: Fast protons prefer fast neutrons

Published: June 19, 2008 at 9:34 AM

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 19 (UPI) -- U.S. physicists say they've found fast-moving protons are much more likely to pair with fast-moving neutrons than with other protons in the nuclei of atoms.

The experiment conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility confirmed a theoretical prediction by Penn State Professor Mark Strikman. The government scientists also used an experimental strategy suggested by Strikman and his Penn State team.

"Although we predicted a very large probability of pairing between fast-moving nucleons, it is amazing to me that 100 percent of fast-moving nucleons are paired," said Strikman. "It also is amazing that so little of this pairing is between two protons."

Strikman said the discovery is "the most clear-cut example that the high-energy processes, which we have been advocating for many years, are truly effective tools and can be used for future discoveries."

Funding for the research conducted by Strikman and his colleagues came from the Israel Science Foundation, the U.S.-Israeli Binational Scientific Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Results of the complex physics experiment will be published later this year in the journal Science, which recently posted the paper on its Web site.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Crude oil prices rebound slightly (2 min)
Saab's future is back in GM's hands (25 min)
Computer program helps restore streams (28 min)
2004 Calif. quake's aftershocks studied (41 min)
Atlantis undocks from space station
New chameleon species discovered
Technology ID's gender of very young birds
fark
Photoshop this semiconductor tracker barrel
Dog works the drive-through at a convenience store (with awesome picture of the employee)
Ten secret text message codes parents need to pay special attention to. NALOPKT
You know that guy who spent 23 years in a coma but aware of everything going on? Even money says...
Police searching for the grinch or grinches who crushed a gingerbread town containing 650 gingerbread...
Lovers reportedly have sex in clock tower in broad daylight - of course that's only second hand