Abstract
The existence of a bound state of a proton and a heavy atom is predicted. The atom is described by the Thomas-Fermi method. The electrons screen the field of the proton, which suppresses the repulsive force between the proton and the atomic nucleus. On the other hand, the force of attraction between the proton and the electrons is directed along the electron density gradient (i.e., towards the nucleus). It is concluded that for Z = 80, the two forces are balanced at a distance from the nucleus of about 0.6 of the Bohr radius. It is found that the potential energy minimum of the proton with a depth of several tens of electronvolts lies in the range of negative energies (attraction). It is proposed that such a system be referred to as a binuclear atom. It is emphasized that, in contrast to molecules, in which binding with the hydrogen atom is ensured by a rearrangement of the states of the outer-shell (valence) electrons, a binuclear atom is formed as a result of the collective response of the system of inner electrons to the proton potential.
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Original Russian Text © V.P. Chalyi, V.L. Gurevich, M.Yu. Pogorelsky, 2009, published in Zhurnal Tekhnicheskoĭ Fiziki, 2009, Vol. 79, No. 2, pp. 1–5.
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Chalyi, V.P., Gurevich, V.L. & Pogorelsky, M.Y. Binuclear atom as the bound state of a proton and a heavy atom. Tech. Phys. 54, 159–164 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063784209020017
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063784209020017