Atomic/Nuclear Compression!?

Question

Is there a way by which the size of Proton/Neutron or electron be compressed (into a much much smaller size than they normally are)?

How does the compression of matter take place in the singularity of a black hole? I mean where are all those atoms (mattar) which formed the black hole?

I know that atoms are mostly empty, but what about the compression of sub-atomic particles?

I am a little confused. Can somebody kindly help me?

Thanks.

Answer 1

protons and neutrons (and the other hadrons) are composed of quarks and glueons. If you squeeze matter hard enough, you will get a quark soup.

It is not clear that in actuality, matter that falls into the black hole actually gets to the signularity. The black hole will evaporate before the matter moves from the black hole event horizon to the singularity.

Answer 2

matter as we know it is made of atoms. these atoms do have a nucleus consisting of protons and neutrons, and some 'clouds' of electrons in a likewise hughe distance to the nucleus.
If it comes to a collapsing star, or any other mass which piles up on its own gravity the force keeping the electrons in their orbit becomes smaller than the force acting on the whole atom.
according to Harrison/Wheeler's description what happens to cold matter, the electrons try to re-establish their orbits and start acting against this external force.
the more force is applied the less electrons can keep their orbits.
if the density reaches like 10^5 g/cm the electrons appear in pairs between neutrons and protons, but still have the tendency to re-establish their orbits.

at about 10^11 g/cm the presussure is too large for the electrons to keep in pairs and they start being pressed into the protons, turning them in neutrons, doing so.
(this is why we talk about a neutron star)

at about 10^14 g/cm its believed that neutrons start arranging in pairs, but noone knows for sure how large the pressure against compression is, at this state.

somewhere beyond this density should a singularity appear according to some theories

Answer 3

Quantum mechanics of subatomic particles is seriously bizarre stuff. Almost like religion or magic. The particles are really not particles, they are waves. Waves of what? Waves of probability that there is a particle there. But what is this particle than probably is there? It IS the probability wave function. You will never get anywhere thinking of electrons as little balls or dots. They are more like a ~ than a .