Believe Some of What You See
Scientists discovered that protons have internal structure more than thirty years after Chadwick’s neutron
became a part of the atomic nucleus. During those years, they also discovered positrons and neutrinos, found
them exiting the nucleus during radioactive decay, and learned that free neutrons became protons by emitting
beta particles. Yet, in spite of what appears to be happening to the nucleus based on these discoveries;
scientists continued to reject the idea that particles other than protons and neutrons existed within the nucleus,
especially electrons. It was not until the deep inelastic scattering results left them no choice but to concede that
protons and neutrons were not elementary particles that scientists began considering the alternatives.
However, this was only temporary. The emerging Standard Model provided scientists another paradigm within
which to entrench themselves.
Even after discovering the proton substructure, scientists avoided considering the idea that the particles
appearing to leave the nucleus during beta decay were actually part of the nucleus prior to the decay. Instead,
they chose to, and continue to, endorse the theoretical particles from the Standard Model, up and down quarks,
as the sub-particles forming protons and neutrons. They do this, even though, to date, scientists have not
witnessed an up or a down quark leaving the nucleus, or extracted one from a proton or a neutron. Regardless
of this, scientists exhibit an almost faith-like optimism that with enough time and money, their search will
eventually reveal conclusive evidence of quarks in the nucleus. However, if deep inelastic scattering
demonstrates that protons and neutrons are collections of smaller particles; then it seems unreasonable, given
all of the observations made, not to consider whether they contain the particles observed leaving the nucleus
during beta decay.
The six steps to the left, taken in order, layout the logic for models of the proton and the neutron made entirely
of particles like the ones observed exiting the nucleus during beta decay.
Scientists discovered that protons have internal structure more than thirty years after Chadwick’s neutron
became a part of the atomic nucleus. During those years, they also discovered positrons and neutrinos, found
them exiting the nucleus during radioactive decay, and learned that free neutrons became protons by emitting
beta particles. Yet, in spite of what appears to be happening to the nucleus based on these discoveries;
scientists continued to reject the idea that particles other than protons and neutrons existed within the nucleus,
especially electrons. It was not until the deep inelastic scattering results left them no choice but to concede that
protons and neutrons were not elementary particles that scientists began considering the alternatives.
However, this was only temporary. The emerging Standard Model provided scientists another paradigm within
which to entrench themselves.
Even after discovering the proton substructure, scientists avoided considering the idea that the particles
appearing to leave the nucleus during beta decay were actually part of the nucleus prior to the decay. Instead,
they chose to, and continue to, endorse the theoretical particles from the Standard Model, up and down quarks,
as the sub-particles forming protons and neutrons. They do this, even though, to date, scientists have not
witnessed an up or a down quark leaving the nucleus, or extracted one from a proton or a neutron. Regardless
of this, scientists exhibit an almost faith-like optimism that with enough time and money, their search will
eventually reveal conclusive evidence of quarks in the nucleus. However, if deep inelastic scattering
demonstrates that protons and neutrons are collections of smaller particles; then it seems unreasonable, given
all of the observations made, not to consider whether they contain the particles observed leaving the nucleus
during beta decay.
The six steps to the left, taken in order, layout the logic for models of the proton and the neutron made entirely
of particles like the ones observed exiting the nucleus during beta decay.
| Copyright © 2009 by William L. Stubbs |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Structure Logic |
| Nucleon Structure |
 |
| |
 |