Quantum theory of Einstein-Bose particles and nuclear interaction

Abstract The description of nuclear interaction in terms of a neutron-proton "exchange force” appears to be well justified and generally accepted. However, there has hitherto been no satisfactory suggestion as to the nature of the field of charged particles, the virtual emission and reabsorption of which, according to Heisenberg’s (1932) picture, would give rise to this type of interaction. It may be now considered certain that this field is not identical with the electron-neutrino field of Fermi’s theory, the magnitude of nuclear forces being far too large to be compatible with the small empirical value of the constant of β-decay. As an alternative and simpler description of the nuclear field Yukawa (1935) put forward the idea that the interaction is transmitted by charged particles obeying Einstein-Bose statistics. He showed that the resulting nuclear potential would be proportional to r-1 exp( — 2πm0cr/h), m0 being the rest mass of the Bose particles. Thus, forces of a correct range would be obtained with a rest mass about 100 times that of the electron.