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Shown in the diagram is a He3 nucleus consisting of a proton-neutron
pair and a second proton. Other nuclei in the helium target
can consist of a proton-proton pair and the neutron. Bonded
pairs exist like this in the nucleus about 25% of the time.
When electrons are fired into the target, some of them knock out
the single proton or neutron, momentarily leaving behind the bonded
proton-neutron or proton-proton pair. The bonded pair then
disintegrates almost immediately, the two particles repelling each
other identically, whether the pair was proton-neutron or
proton-proton. Theoretical physicists have long thought that
bonded pairs existed and are responsible for holding the atom's
nucleus together. Dr. Weinstein's experiment provided direct
experimental evidence that they were correct.
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