Fundamental Aspects of Nucleon Interactions

Abstract

The periodic table of elements (the Mendeleev table, Appendix A.1) is the most extraordinary demonstration of the interconnection between the microcosm and macrocosm, or between particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology. Following the Standard Model of the macrocosm (Sect. 13.6), 3 min after the Big Bang, matter in the Universe was primarily composed of hydrogen (92%), helium (8%) nuclei (primordial nuclei) and electrons. Today, on Earth, every element of the periodic table is present, from hydrogen (Z = 1) to uranium (Z = 92). As we shall show in this chapter, all nonprimordial nuclei up to iron are formed inside stars, in the processes of stellar nucleosynthesis. The release of these elements in the Universe occurs through the gravitational collapse of massive stars, followed by the envelope expulsion (supernova). Nuclei heavier than iron are formed through neutron capture processes, followed by β-decay. Most of the produced nuclei are radioactive. Only those with long or very long lifetimes have survived. All the others were transformed into stable nuclei.