Nice explanation.
What is the bonding energy within the nucleus being converted to? High energy photons? Or is it more accurate to say that these photons were already there and involved in the binding of the protons and neutrons?
With regard to your last comment about quarks, is it true that it will never be practically possible to split a proton or neutron? I remember a quote from a book I read a few years back that said something like:
"Quarks are what protons would split into, if they could split, but they can't"