Neutron Decay Into Proton: Hawking's New Book

[jnorman]

can a neutron decay into a proton? i certainly didnt think so, but i am reading hawking's new little book "breifer history of time", and he states that in there while talking about the early universe. thanks.

 

[daveb]

Yes, a free neutron decays with a half life of between 10 and 12 minutes (depends on the source used, but most sources put it closer to 11 minutes) to a proton electron and antineutrino. A neutron inside a nucleus can also decay similarly, depending on whether the atom is a neutron heavy radioactive atom.

 

[denian]

Yes, a neutron can decay into a proton. This process is known as beta decay and is a fundamental concept in nuclear physics. In this process, a neutron transforms into a proton by emitting an electron and an antineutrino. This is a well-established concept that has been studied and observed in various experiments. Stephen Hawking, in his book "A Brief History of Time", may be referring to the early universe when the conditions were such that this type of decay was more prevalent. Thank you for bringing this up and for your interest in science.