Nuclear Clustering and Interactions Between Nucleons

Abstract

Nuclear mass data provide EMPIRICAL evidence of: 1. Clustering of nucleons; 2. Attractive n-p interactions; and 3. Repulsive but symmetric n-n and p-p interactions after correcting for the repulsive Coulomb interactions between positive nuclear charges. These findings suggest a possible source of energy in neutron stars, in stars which formed on them, and demonstrate the need for a Theoretical understanding of 1. Interactions between nucleons; 2. Clustering of nucleons; and 3. Neutron-emission by penetration of the gravitational barrier surrounding a neutron star.