Emergence of a Brunnian neutron state

TL;DR

This paper predicts the possible existence of a stable, multi-neutron nucleus with a Brunnian structure, arising from quantum-statistical effects and P-wave interactions, independent of short-range nuclear details.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum-statistical argument for the emergence of a stable multi-neutron state with a Brunnian configuration, unrelated to specific nuclear interaction models.

Findings

Prediction of a stable multi-neutron nucleus

Independence from short-distance nuclear interaction details

Consistency with known light nuclei properties

Abstract

We discuss a quantum-statistical feature of non-relativistic identical fermions whose interaction is predominantly attractive at low energies. Specifically, we consider exotic, multi-neutron nuclei. From the enhancement of an arbitrarily small P-wave interaction between two nucleons, we infer the existence of a particle-stable nucleus composed entirely of neutrons. While we cannot specify the number of neutrons in the system, we predict that none of its substructures is bound. The independence of this deduction from the short-distance structure of the nuclear interaction and its consistency with deuteron, triton, and helium-4 properties is established.