RealNucleus is model of a
nucleus as a collection of $P$ non-overlapping +1 proton charge densities surrounding a kernel as a collection of $E$ non-overlapping -1 electron charge densities interacting by
Coulomb potentials without presence of the strong and weak force of the
Standard Model.
We consider here a reduced model assuming spherical symmetry in the form of a central sphere of negative density of total charge $E$ surrounded by a shell system of positive density of total charge $P$. The model can be tested using
this code with settings for the nucleus of 4He consisting of 2 electrons surrounded by 4 protons.
The model corresponds to, in the setting of the Standard Model, of a nucleus with $E$ neutrons and $P-E$ protons with in the basic case $E=P-E$ with thus $P=2E$.
The Standard Model was formed in the 1960s to explain the stability of a nucleus by introducing an attractive force overpowering the Coulomb repulsion named the strong force as a new fundamental force asking for very elaborate quark-gluon physics. The present crisis of physics is directly connected to deficiencies of the Standard Model without resolution in sight. The Standard Model is proclaimed to be the most successful theory of all of physics and as such cannot be abandoned, but then serves as a road block to progress.
RealNucleus offers a different explanation of the stability of nuclei which does not involve any strong/weak force and so is based solely on Coulomb potentials coming with Coulomb forces. RealQM shows that the negative charges in the kernel are confined by the surrounding positive charges. More precisely RealNucleus computes a total energy of the nucleus to be negative with thus the negative potential energy from charges of different sign overpowering the positive repulsion energy from charges of the same sign, in particular from the kernel repulsion between electrons.
RealNucleus thus shows stability of a nucleus consisting of a kernel of negative charge $E$ surrounded by a shell system of positive charge $2E$. In particular it is shown that the fact that the mass of a proton is bigger than that of an electron making an electron occupy more space than a proton, is instrumental for stability with the radius of the kernel being comparable to the radius of the nucleus.
A nucleus thus appears as an analog of an atomic ion with electrons and protons switching roles, with the kernel of a nucleus comparably much bigger than the nucleus of an atom.
A physicist trained with the Standard Model would say that it is impossible that a nucleus has a negative kernel consisting of electrons, because by Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle compression of an electron to fit inside a nucleus would require 100s of MeV which are not available. RealNucleus shows that this argument may well lack real physics.
RealNucleus is a model of a nucleus without the heavy burden of the Standard Model. Note that there is a shell model connected to the Standard Model with a nucleus as a collection of protons and neutrons swimming in a negative charge potential coming from the strong force.
RealNucleus keeps a nucleus together as a negative kernel of electrons of charge $E$ surrounded by a shell system of positive protons of charge $2E$ interacting via Coulomb potentials only by a combination of the following circumstances:
- The radius of the kernel is a substantial fraction of the radius of the whole nucleus, because electron mass is much than proton assigning electrons comparatively large volume.
- The double number of protons vs electrons allows the surrounding protons to confine the electrons in the kernel thus overcoming electron-electron repulsion.
- The boundary/radius of the kernel is determined to make electron charge density meet proton charge density with continuity.
If Coulomb and Newtonian gravitational potentials suffice to describe both the macroscopics of the world we can see and the microscopics of atoms and nuclei, then Einstein's dream of a unified field theory would seem to be in reach. Maybe such a theory can find an audience outside the physics community tied to the Standard Model of quarks interacting be weak and strong forces transmitted by gluons as force carriers.
Note that there are two different ways of using the concept of force:
- Force on a particle comes from instant local in space gradient of a potential. No transmission of force over space-time. Instant local action.
- Force between particles transmitted over space-time by force carriers connecting particles. Action at distance.
It is natural by Ockham's Razor to favour 1. using only the concept of potential, before 2. asking for force carriers of unknown physical nature.
PS1 Note that the Standard Model does not describe a nucleus, only the protons and neutrons supposedly forming the nucleus, not even 2H consisting of 1 proton and 1 neutron. This is a strange short-coming.
PS2 The common understanding of well educated physicists is that a nucleus is a collection of protons and neutrons and in particular that there is not even room for a single electron. This conviction can be challenged by the following observations: (i) a neutron outside a nucleus decays within 15 minutes into a proton and an electron and (ii) a neutron inside a nucleus can decay into a proton staying in the nucleus and an electron, which is kicked out of the nucleus ($\beta$-decay).