Field Theory of Nuclear Interaction

Abstract

The problem of explaining the recent results on nuclear interaction by means of a field theory is studied. Fermi's theory of the electron-neutrino field is used as a model which is sufficient to account for the symmetries of the problem, although it fails to explain the order of magnitude of the forces. The equality of forces between like and unlike particles is exactly accounted for by introducing interaction terms involving the emission of electron pairs or neutrino pairs. The interaction law may be stated very simply with the aid of an isotopic spin variable for light as well as for heavy particles. The ratio of force constants obtainable from the theory of mass defects may be accounted for in detail by a suitable choice of the light particle field. However, it is difficult to explain any law involving more than one potential function $J\left(r\right)\mathrm{}$.