Phonon-bound nucleon pairs predicted by the Bohm-Staver relation

TL;DR

This paper proposes that phonon exchange could lead to bound nucleon pairs in transition metal hydrides, potentially explaining observed fluid phases, and introduces a formula for their binding energy with a test for the theory.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical model predicting phonon-bound nucleon pairs in hydrides, extending concepts similar to Cooper pairs to nuclear particles.

Findings

Bound nucleon pairs may form via phonon exchange.

A generic formula for binding energy is derived.

A test for the theory's validity is proposed.

Abstract

Attention is drawn to recent observation of a fluid phase of hydrogen nucleii in transition metal hydrides. It is suggested that phonon exchange processes might be responsible for the phase transition since bound pair states, analogous to Cooper pairs, would possess the required mobility and might moreover render the phase transition energetically favourable. A generic formula for the ground state binding energy based upon the results of numerical calculations is presented and a special test of the theory is proposed.