Proton $β% decay in large magnetic fields

Abstract

A delicate interplay between the anomalous magnetic moments of the proton and neutron makes, in magnetic fields $B\ge 2\times 10^{14}$ T, the neutron stable and for fields $B\ge 5\times 10^{14}$ T the proton becomes unstable to a decay into a neutron via $β$ emission. Limits on the field strengths for which these arguments hold are presented and are related to questions of vacuum stability in the presence of such fields. Possible astrophysical consequences are discussed.