Neutron

This article is about the subatomic particle. For other uses, see Neutron (disam
biguation).
Neutron Quark structure neutron.svg
The quark structure of the neutron. (The color assignment of individual quarks i
s not important, only that all three colors are present.)
Classification Baryon
Composition 1 up quark, 2 down quarks
Statistics Fermionic
Interactions Gravity, Weak, Strong, Electromagnetic
Symbol n, n0, N0
Antiparticle Antineutron
Theorized Ernest Rutherford[1][2] (1920)
Discovered James Chadwick[1] (1932)
Mass 1.674927351(74)10-27 kg[3]
939.565378(21) MeV/c2[3]
1.00866491600(43) u[3]
Mean lifetime 881.5(15) s (free)
Electric charge 0 e
0 C
Electric dipole moment < 2.910-26 ecm
Electric polarizability 1.16(15)10-3 fm3
Magnetic moment -0.96623647(23)10-26 JT-1[3]
-1.04187563(25)10-3 B[3]
-1.91304272(45) N[3]
Magnetic polarizability 3.7(20)10-4 fm3
Spin 1/2
Isospin 1/2
Parity +1
Condensed I(JP) = 1/2(1/2+)
The neutron is a subatomic hadron particle that has the symbol n or n0. Neutrons
have no net electric charge and a mass slightly larger than that of a proton. W
ith the exception of hydrogen-1, the nucleus of every atom consists of at least
one neutron as well as one or more protons. Protons and neutrons are collectivel
y referred to as "nucleons". Since interacting protons have a mutual electromagn
etic repulsion that is stronger than their attractive nuclear interaction, neutr
ons are often a necessary constituent within the atomic nucleus that allows a co
llection of protons to stay atomically bound (see diproton & neutron-proton rati
o).[4] Neutrons bind with protons and one another in the nucleus via the nuclear
force, effectively stabilizing it. The number of neutrons in the nucleus of an
atom is referred to as its neutron number, which reveals the specific isotope of
that atom. For example, the abundant carbon-12 isotope has 6 protons and 6 neut
rons, whereas the rare radioactive carbon-14 isotope also has 6 protons but, ins
tead, 8 neutrons. Elements may be found in nature as only one isotope or with as
many as 10 isotopes (manganese and tin, respectively).
While the bound neutrons in nuclei can be stable (depending on the nuclide), fre
e neutrons are unstable; they undergo beta decay with a mean lifetime of just un
der 15 minutes (881.51.5 s).[5] Free neutrons are produced in nuclear fission and
fusion. Dedicated neutron sources like neutron generators, research reactors an
d spallation sources produce free neutrons for use in irradiation and in neutron
scattering experiments. Even though it is not a chemical element, the free neut
ron is sometimes included in tables of nuclides.[6]
The neutron has been key to the production of nuclear power. The neutron was dis
covered in 1932, and in 1933, it was realized that it might mediate a nuclear ch
ain reaction. In the 1930s, neutrons were used to produce many different types o
f nuclear transmutations. When nuclear fission was discovered in 1938, it became
clear that, if the process also produced neutrons, this might be the mechanism
to produce the neutrons for a chain reaction. This was proven in 1939, opening t
he path to nuclear power production. These events and findings led directly to t
he first self-sustaining, man-made, nuclear chain reaction (Chicago Pile-1, 1942
) and to the first nuclear weapons (1945).
Contents
1 Discovery
1.1 Protonneutron model of the nucleus
2 Intrinsic properties
2.1 Stability and beta decay
2.1.1 Free neutron decay
2.1.2 Bound neutron decay
2.2 Electric dipole moment
2.3 Magnetic moment
2.4 Anti-neutron
2.5 Structure and geometry of charge distribution
3 Neutron compounds
3.1 Dineutrons and tetraneutrons
3.2 Neutronium and neutron stars
4 Detection
4.1 Neutron detection by neutron capture
4.2 Neutron detection by elastic scattering
5 Production and sources
5.1 Neutron beams and modification of beams after production
6 Uses
7 Protection
8 Neutron temperature
8.1 Thermal neutrons
8.2 Cold neutrons
8.3 Ultracold neutrons
8.4 Fission energy neutrons
8.5 Fusion neutrons
8.6 Intermediate-energy neutrons
8.7 High-energy neutrons
9 See also
9.1 Neutron sources
9.2 Processes involving neutrons
10 References
11 Further reading
Discovery
In 1920, Ernest Rutherford conceived the possible existence of the neutron.[2][7
] In particular, Rutherford considered that the disparity found between the atom
ic number of an atom and its atomic mass could be explained by the existence of
a neutrally charged particle within the atomic nucleus. He considered the neutro
n to be a neutral double consisting of an electron orbiting a proton.[8]
Through the 1920s, physicists had generally accepted an (incorrect) model of the
atomic nucleus as composed of protons and electrons.[9][10] It was known that a
tomic nuclei usually had about half as many positive charges than if they were c
omposed completely of protons, and in existing models this was often explained b
y proposing that nuclei also contained some "nuclear electrons" to neutralize th
e excess charge. Thus, the nitrogen-14 nucleus would be composed of 14 protons a
nd 7 electrons to give it a charge of +7 but a mass of 14 atomic mass units.
The new quantum mechanics implied that a particle as light as the electron could
not be contained in a region as small as the nucleus with any reasonable energy
. In 1930 Viktor Ambartsumian and Dmitri Ivanenko in the USSR found that, contra
ry to the prevailing opinion of the time, the nucleus cannot consist of protons
and electrons. They proved that some neutral particles must be present besides t
he protons.[11][12]
In 1931, Walther Bothe and Herbert Becker in Germany found that if the very ener
getic alpha particles emitted from polonium fell on certain light elements, spec
ifically beryllium, boron, or lithium, an unusually penetrating radiation was pr
oduced. At first this radiation was thought to be gamma radiation, although it w
as more penetrating than any gamma rays