
The stability of the hydrogen atom is conventionally described within quantum mechanics by stationary electron states derived from the Coulomb interaction between an electron and a point-like proton. While this framework successfully reproduces observed energy levels, the physical mechanism preventing the electron from collapsing into the proton is embedded in the formal structure of the theory rather than arising from a specific short-range interaction. In this work, an alternative hypothesis is proposed in which the stability of the hydrogen atom originates from the internal charge structure of the proton. The proton is modeled as possessing a positively charged core surrounded by a weakly negative, neutrino-like charge distribution. This internal configuration modifies the effective electron–proton interaction at short distances, producing a repulsive or screening effect that prevents collapse. The resulting effective potential exhibits a minimum at a finite radial distance, naturally defining a stable equilibrium separation. The model is presented as a qualitative and exploratory hypothesis intended to complement, rather than replace, the standard quantum mechanical description.
speculative hypothesis, hydrogen atom, phenomenological model, Theoretical physics
speculative hypothesis, hydrogen atom, phenomenological model, Theoretical physics
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
