[Kryptid]

I'm still uncertain if there should be reason why the neutrons would be considered to be associated with the sun

Technically, the wave function of any given particle occupies all of space, including beyond the Andromeda galaxy. So it can be considered to be "associated" with everything. The probability distribution is infinitesimal at such an immense distance, however, and thus the probability of tunneling to such a distance is also beyond miniscule.

I'm pretty sure that the Earth spontaneously exploding from such a hypothetical mass neutron tunneling event would very much count as an observation if we happened to be here when it happened. So any requirement for it to be observed is fulfilled.

[Eternal Student]

OK Kryptid.  I'll go with this answer (and I'm also aware we are drifting off the OP topic).
Thank you for your time and attention.

[charles1948]

Suppose we attempted a "computer simulation" of the disappearance of neutrons.

Computers operate on a binary principle,  "+" and  "-" .So computers can easily  accommodate  "+" particles, ie protons.   And "-" particles, ie electrons

But neutrons are neither "+" nor "-".

So how would they be represented  in a computer?

[Kryptid]

Computers operate on a binary principle,  "+" and  "-" .So computers can easily  accommodate  "+" particles, ie protons.   And "-" particles, ie electrons

Surely you mean 1 and 0, not + and -?

[charles1948]

Computers operate on a binary principle,  "+" and  "-" .So computers can easily  accommodate  "+" particles, ie protons.   And "-" particles, ie electrons

Surely you mean 1 and 0, not + and -?

 Yes, but "1" and "0" are mere numerical representations of + and - . As you well know, you quibbler!

My question remains valid.  How can a computer deal with something which is neither "1" , nor "0".

[Kryptid]

How can a computer deal with something which is neither "1" , nor "0".

That depends on how you choose to program it in. Even a single letter we type isn't a single 0 or 1: it is represented in the programming by a series of 0s and 1s, with each letter being represented by a unique pattern. You can represent particles in a simulation the same way.

[Bored chemist]

So how would they be represented  in a computer?

Typically as an ascii string.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASCII
78,69,85.84,82,79,78,83
But if you wanted more than just the word, you would need a more complex representation.
The fact that you and I can discuss neutrons over the. internet proves that describing them in terms of 1 and 0 isn't a problem

[charles1948]

When we communicate on the Internet, we only use electrons.  No neutrons are involved.

If they were, would that have an explosive effect on the speed, and impact of our mutual intercourse.

[Kryptid]

When we communicate on the Internet, we only use electrons.

What difference does that make? All it means is that you can talk about neutrons by using electrons.

[Bored chemist]

When we communicate on the Internet, we only use electrons. 

In reality, we mainly use photons.
Why do you put so much effort into being so wrong?
Are you trolling?

[charles1948]

When we communicate on the Internet, we only use electrons.

In reality, we mainly use photons.
Why do you put so much effort into being so wrong?
Are you trolling?

I just like talking about science, and putting forward my views.  To see what other scientifically-minded people think of them.

Sometimes, that changes my views.  Which is a gain.  Otherwise, there'd be no point coming on here

[evan_au]

But neutrons are neither "+" nor "-".
So how would they be represented  in a computer?

Following this tangent a little further... It really depends on what you want to represent about a neutron, and how much effort you want to put into it...

- A Binary Digit, or Bit can store 2 distinct values, which might be TRUE/FALSE, 0/1, +/-, neutron/no neutron or anything else you define it to mean.  Incidentally, on most of today's internet, it means "a few photons"/"a quarter as many photons"
- A Byte, or 8 bits, can store 256 distinct values, which might be "a letter typed on an American keyboard", "the atomic number of all the known elements (1-118+)", "the number of neutrons in any known nucleus (0-176+)", "The brightness of a blue dot on your computer screen", or anything else you define it to mean.
- Bits can be combined in larger groups; a common one in physics is a 64-bit group which is interpreted floating point numbers as large as 10³⁰⁷, or as small as 10^-307, plus some special values (like 0).
- These can be combined in larger groups; 3 floating point numbers could represent the position of a neutron in 3 dimensions.
- 6 floating point numbers could represent the position and velocity of a neutron in 3 dimensions.

But it really depends on what you are trying to model
- If you are trying to model the wavefunction of the 3 quarks in a neutron, and the gluons that bind them together, you may need Gigabytes of data (billions of bytes).

[jeffreyH]

Suppose we attempted a "computer simulation" of the disappearance of neutrons.

Computers operate on a binary principle,  "+" and  "-" .So computers can easily  accommodate  "+" particles, ie protons.   And "-" particles, ie electrons

But neutrons are neither "+" nor "-".

So how would they be represented  in a computer?

Binary is a numerical system, just like decimal. It represents numbers. By itself, it cannot represent anything. People decide what a binary pattern represents. So 10110011 in binary could be assigned the value "troll seeking attention".

[yor_on]

We also have to ask, what did happen to the neutrons?  By all rights they can't just disappear without leaving something else behind.  If they were suddenly converted into energy then we have a catastrophic event before we even to begin to worry about unstable nuclei that may be left behind.

This is a good point. They can't disappear into nothingness, but something akin to that could potentially happen. There is a finite probability that a particle will quantum tunnel to a different location if that location puts it in a lower energy state. So it's not impossible that every neutron in the Earth could simultaneously quantum tunnel somewhere else (maybe into a black hole or the Sun's core). What is impossible, however, is to properly convey with words just how ludicrously unlikely that is.

heh :)

Yep, and in a multiverse theory this is doomed to happen.
I better get ready

[Pseudoscience-is-malarkey (OP)]

Hi.

We also have to ask, what did happen to the neutrons?  By all rights they can't just disappear without leaving something else behind.  If they were suddenly converted into energy then we have a catastrophic event before we even to begin to worry about unstable nuclei that may be left behind.

It's immaterial. It's just a weird way of asking what their properties are.