is unstable
Correct option is B
Solution:
The deuteron, represented by the symbol
, is a stable isotope of hydrogen with one proton and one neutron, making it a unique and crucial example in nuclear physics.
· The existence of the tensor force can be inferred from the properties of the deuteron. The deuteron is the only stable particle composed of two nucleons, and yet, it is not particularly tightly bound, reflecting the balance between the attractive strong force and the repulsive coulomb and centrifugal forces.
· In quantum mechanics, particles can have different types of spin states. In the case of a system of two nucleons, such as the deuteron, there can be a triplet state (where the spins of the two nucleons are aligned, giving a total spin of 1) and a singlet state (where they are anti-aligned, giving a total spin of 0).
· The fact that the deuteron exists in a triplet state (spin = 1), but a neutron-neutron or proton-proton spin-singlet bound state does not exist, strongly suggests the existence of a tensor component in the nuclear force.
· This is because the tensor force can couple to spin-1 states but not to spin-0 states. Without the tensor force, the deuteron would not be bound.
· A non-zero quadrupole moment in the ground state of the deuteron is only possible if there's a combination of both S and D states (where D state signifies a quantum mechanical state with an orbital angular momentum quantum number l = 2).
· The mixing of S and D states is a clear signature of the tensor component of the nuclear force. So, the deuteron's non-zero electric quadrupole moment in its ground state works as indirect evidence for the tensor component of the nuclear force.
