-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] > I don't understand Jones Beene's point.
> If correct - how do neutrons decay into e-, p+ and neutrino? Yes, that is correct - and spin is conserved on neutron decay. Since you are going from a more massive neutron to a less massive proton, the energy released is also conserved. BUT - there is a basic asymmetry here in that in addition to the large mass deficit, when you try to go the other way (P + e), there is NO neutrino with which to conserve spin, so it cannot happen in that direction - get it? Neutrinos are ubiquitous but cannot be captured to retain symmetry. Plus - even if spin were not an issue, you cannot go from low mass to higher mass without adding LOTS of energy from somewhere. Speed of light squared cannot be easily bypassed to suddenly create the deficit mass - as W-L apparently wish to do. As David mentioned, in QM - the deficit could potentially be "borrowed" in advance, but only IF it could be "repaid" immediately (sub-pico-sec). However, there is too much time delay for that since the neutron is not immediately absorbed following formation.
