Solid metallic hydrogen

[seriously disabled]

Solid metallic hydrogen consists of a crystal lattice of atomic nuclei (namely, protons) separated only by a dense electron soup which flows between them.

 

My question is: How are the atomic nuclei bound together? What keeps the nuclei in a crystal lattice structure?

[insane_alien]

electrostatic attraction to the electron sea. same as in all metals

[seriously disabled]

electrostatic attraction to the electron sea. same as in all metals

 

But if the electrons are constantly flowing around the nuclei, then how can there be electrostatic attraction all the time?

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Merged post follows:

Consecutive posts merged

Also in solid metallic hydrogen, are the individual hydrogen atoms actually bound together to other hydrogen atoms or are they unbound?

Edited December 15, 2009 by Uri
Consecutive posts merged.

[granpa]

Solid metallic hydrogen consists of a crystal lattice of atomic nuclei (namely, protons) separated only by a dense electron soup which flows between them.

 

My question is: How are the atomic nuclei bound together? What keeps the nuclei in a crystal lattice structure?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_degeneracy_pressure

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degenerate_matter