Researchers Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Aldo Antognini, unbelievable shock. From the results of the calculations, it turns out the size the proton is 0.84087 femtometer in radius (a femtometer is a millionth of a billionth of a meter). This number is 4 percent smaller in radius than the physicists used, ie 0.8768 femtometer.
Antognini measure the particles making up the nucleus of atoms in January 2013. The data is different from that mentioned in the textbooks. "Depreciation of the proton radius is rather large," said Randalf Pohl, who spoke at the American Physical Society meeting in Denver, Monday, April 15, 2013.
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| Researchers have found the proton is smaller than thought. The proton is one of the ingredients (along with neutrons & electrons) of the atoms that make up our bodies and the world around us. (Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/) |
Randalf Pohl, a physicists from the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, became worried. According to him, more data is needed to ensure shrinkage of the proton measurements. You see, the proton is the particle size is very small so it is very possible measurement error.
Proton is usually measured using with two methods. The first way is done by firing electrons to protons. Size of the proton can be known from the electron trajectory deflection. The second way is done in a way to see the behavior of electrons.
The negatively charged particles that surround the positively charged protons in the energy ladders. Electrons can jump from one ladder to another ladder, taking off or capture energy. Amount of recoil energy is used to determine the strength of the pull of the proton. Size of the proton itself can be calculated from the strength of this attraction. Pohl develop other measurement methods, he no longer uses electrons as the "ruler". This time, they use the other negatively charged particles called "muons". These particles are 200 times heavier than electrons so that rotating proton at a distance of 200 times closer. Shorter distance makes the muon as a rule are more accurate in measuring the proton radius. "The distances are closer to give a better picture," he said.
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| This laser apparatus, used to test the size of the proton, found that the particle's radius is about 4 percent smaller than thought. (Picture from: http://science.nbcnews.com/) |
Experts are waiting for the results of measurements using the new method. If the results justify a proton depreciation, certain physicists face a big problem of having to create a new theory to explain the proton is more streamlined. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE | ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 4203]
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