what occupes the space between sub-atomic particles (neutron, protons, electrons)?

Answer 1

vacuum--which isn't to say nothing exactly, since the vacuum is abuzz with virtual particles coming and going. So the answer is nothing permanent, but the vagrant particles arising from vacuum fluctuations can stick around long enough to be noticed in various ways.

Answer 2

We don't know.

It's a reasonably safe bet that between electrons and the nucleus that there is a vacuum. The definition of a vacuum in this case is space without free energy and thus total mass. A vacuum would have quantum fluctuations though, which are photons winking in and out of existance in very short times, so the total energy of the vacuum doesn't change.

But does this mean there is a vacuum between the particles in the nucleus? I have given this some thought, and I have to say no. I can't conclude there there is a vacuum beetween protons and neutrons. From my view, it is just as likely that there is either empty space between the particles or even that there is no space at all.

The difference between empty space and vacuum space is that empty space does not have quantum fluctuations. Or in the case of no space, you can imagine some kind of hex close pack that essentially eliminates space. I'm not implying that the particles themselves pack against each other, but since they react by the strong force, and leptons (i.e. electrons) only interact weakly, gravitationally and through photon exchange, the condition of a hypothetical empty space would preclude the fluctuations. So energetically, they would want the lowest possible potential, thus close pack.

Remember too, that other particles that interact only weakly (i.e. neutrinos) seem to have have no problem in passing through the same space as massive particles like neutrons and protons. So you could say that neutrinos fill the space between everything in the universe.

Thus ...

If you were to rank the kinds of space between particles, excluding dark matter/energy since it's still a mystery ...

1) Vacuum - no mass or free energy but plenty of quantum fluctuations.
2) Space - no mass, no free energy, no fluctuations, by plenty of neutrinos.
3) Empty space - no mass, no energy no fluctuations, no neutrinos

Since neutrinos do seem to have a very small mass, the only place you would likely find empty space is outside of the universe, assuming there is an outside, and everything doesn't just curve around on itself.

At this point, my brain can't handle the complexity and I relegate all philosphical discourse to my superior, Speed Buggy;

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Answer 3

Strong and weak atomic forces work within the nucleus to keep the protons and neutrons from flying apart. Electro-magnetic (EM) force works between the nucleus (the protons) and the electrons to keep the electrons in their proper energy dependent probability clouds around the core of the atom. (And, yes, electrons can appear, momentarily, within the core of their atom.)

As Bekki as indicated, there are quanta flitting in and out of our known universe all the time within the nuclei of all atoms. But they are only momentary flashes of reality before they go somewhere/sometime else. Such is the nature of so-called quantum jitter. [See source.]

If you believe string/M theory, those flitting, now you see me, now you don't quanta, are manifestations of infinitely thin strings whose vibration frequencies determine what they will look like when they show up in our universe. But as this "theory" is not yet testable, many people simply regard string/M theory as interesting mathematics with no basis in physical fact.

So, as Bekki put it, although you can think of the in-between protons and neutrons as vacuum because for all intents and purposes it is, it really isn't at the sub-atomic level. But what's there at the sub-atomic level is just a momentary flash in the pan.

Answer 4

There is no space !!!!!!!!!

Electrons are not point particles but delocalized over space, they are better represented as waves.

Answer 5

New Age energy
subatomic dust particles
ether

Answer 6

electromagnetic energy, and "dark matter" which is holding everything in the universe together.

Answer 7

magical mexican jumping beans... small ones