Collapsed Nuclei

TLDR

Collapsed nuclei C_A are elementary particles with mass number A>1 and much smaller radius than ordinary nuclei, and their lower energy states are observationally consistent if ordinary nuclei are long‑lived isomers due to a saturation barrier. The study aims to examine the observational consistency, possible properties, and detection prospects of collapsed nuclei C_A. The authors analyze C_A properties using composite baryon and quark models, showing that small or neutral charges and hypercharges are possible. Barrier‑penetrability calculations indicate lifetimes ≳10^31 s for A≈16–40, and C_A can act as a baryon source or sink, with potential astrophysical roles such as large‑scale presence and energy release comparable to rest mass during accelerated collapse in massive objects.

Abstract

We discuss the observational consistency, possible properties, and detection of collapsed nuclei ${C}_{A}$. These may be considered as elementary particles with mass number $A>1$ and of much smaller radius than ordinary nuclei ${N}_{A}$. The existence of ${C}_{A}$ of (perhaps much) lower energy than ${N}_{A}$ is observationally consistent if ${N}_{A}$ are very long-lived isomers against collapse because of a "saturation" barrier between ${C}_{A}$ and ${N}_{A}$. Barrier-penetrability estimates show that sufficiently long lifetimes $\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{10}^{31}$ sec are plausible for $A\ensuremath{\gtrsim}16\ensuremath{-}40$. The properties of ${C}_{A}$ are discussed using composite baryon and quark models; small charges and hypercharges and, especially, neutral ${C}_{A}$ are possible. ${C}_{A}$ can be effectively a source or sink of baryons. Some astrophysical implications are briefly discussed, in particular the possible large scale presence of ${C}_{A}$ and the possibility that accelerated collapse in massive objects may be a source of energy comparable to the rest mass.