Questions tagged [neutrons]
The neutron is a subatomic particle, with no net electric charge and a mass slightly larger than that of a proton. It is a fermion of spin $\frac 1 2$; a hadron, that is it interacts strongly; and a nucleon, that is a crucial component of atomic nuclei.
550
questions
1
vote
0
answers
94
views
Is the Hamiltonian generated by the external magnetic field in the neutron interferometry experiment like "potential energy"?
I believe that the Hamiltonian generated by the external magnetic field in the neutron interferometry experiment effectively leads to an increase in the neutron's potential energy.
Why is this ...
- 11
3
votes
2
answers
106
views
Free Neutron Decay
I've read that free neutrons can decay into hydrogen, but it's rare because the energy from the decay usually sends the electrons away, unable to bind with the protons. But if trillions of free ...
- 53
0
votes
0
answers
18
views
Neutron diffusion equation cylinder question
Hi there I was wondering if anyone could help me with how to approach this problem that I have. I'm looking to find the neutron flux outside of a cylindrical container which is made of steel, however ...
- 15
0
votes
1
answer
37
views
Neutron Dose Rate to Activity Calculation
This is a completely hypothetical question but say I have an unknown radioactive source inside a steel box, given the dimensions of the volumetric source and the container, the neutron dose rate 1m ...
- 15
1
vote
0
answers
78
views
Do neutrons have a higher entropy than protons?
Since free neutrons want to undergo beta decay into a proton while protons are relatively stable does that mean that neutrons have higher entropy than protons?
0
votes
0
answers
32
views
Is free neutron decay due to "running out" of something or just by chance?
When a free neutron (as an example) decays is that due perhaps to expending energy or is it because neutrons have some internal state which changes and sometimes that change results in decay?
In the ...
- 2,224
2
votes
2
answers
62
views
What is known about the isotope distribution of neutronium decay?
Sometimes it is known to happen. For example, neutron star mergers might result in unstable neutronium droplets which lose the enormous pressure that makes them stable. A "nucleon" of $10^{...
- 8,247
0
votes
0
answers
31
views
Neutron Beta Decay Spectrum
Beta decay is generally displayed as below with a fairly significant intensity of electrons emitted with KE ~ 0. In this case, all the energy of the decay is given to the neutrino and the momentum is ...
- 27
1
vote
1
answer
70
views
How does pion exchange cause protons and neutrons to be attracted to each other? [duplicate]
I read that neutron and protons are attracted through exchanging pions between each other. However, as far as I understand, they are just exchanging a meson, not any force carriers. What causes them ...
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How do neutron stars overcome neutron degeneracy?
In a white dwarf, the star is prevented from collapsing due to the Pauli exclusion principle. If the star is heavy enough, the protons in the star will capture electrons, forming neutrons and ...
- 76
0
votes
0
answers
19
views
Neutron double differential capture cross section
Can one define what is the double differential capture cross section for a neutron, and how one would construct an experiment to calculate the double differential cross section as a function of energy ...
- 499
2
votes
0
answers
46
views
Is it possible to produce a focused, high-intensity neutron beam?
Since neutrons are uncharged, exceptionally hard to control, my understanding is that particle accelerators can never directly produce a beam of neutrons. Instead, they need to accelerate some charged ...
- 121
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How does a photon "cheat" its way past a neutron?
I learnt here Is a neutron deflected sideways by a laser beam? that a photon beam has no influence on the motion of a free neutron in the first and second approximation. Now I'm interested in what ...
- 10.6k
1
vote
1
answer
178
views
Is a neutron deflected sideways by a laser beam?
Is a freely moving neutron deflected sideways when a laser beam is directed at it from the side? It would be great if the question could be considered from the two points of view that the laser beam ...
- 10.6k
0
votes
0
answers
34
views
Are there spectra that "prove" that measured energy excesses came purely from deuterium-tritium fusion reactions at the NIF during ignition events?
More energy was produced than was supplied by ultraviolet (UV) lasers (creating x-rays in the gold chamber wall to compress the spherical hollow capsule creating a dense, high-temperature, high-...
- 11