What is neutron?

  • (noun): An elementary particle with 0 charge and mass about equal to a proton; enters into the structure of the atomic nucleus.

Neutron

The neutron is a subatomic hadron particle which has the symbol n or n0, no net electric charge and a mass slightly larger than that of a proton. With the exception of hydrogen-1, nuclei of atoms consist of protons and neutrons, which are therefore collectively referred to as nucleons. The number of protons in a nucleus is the atomic number and defines the type of element the atom forms. Neutrons are necessary within an atomic nucleus as they bind with protons via the nuclear force; protons are unable to bind with each other (see diproton) due to their mutual electromagnetic repulsion being stronger than the attraction of the nuclear force. The number of neutrons is the neutron number and determines the isotope of an element. For example, the abundant carbon-12 isotope has 6 protons and 6 neutrons, while the very rare radioactive carbon-14 isotope has 6 protons and 8 neutrons.

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Some articles on neutron:

Neutron Temperature - High-energy Neutrons
... These neutrons have more energy than fission energy neutrons and are generated as secondary particles by particle accelerators or in the atmosphere from cosmic rays ... have energies as high as tens of joules per neutron ... These neutrons are extremely efficient at ionization and far more likely to cause cell death than X-rays or protons ...
Modular Neutron Array
... The Modular Neutron Array (MoNA) is a large-area, high efficiency neutron detector that is used in basic research of rare isotopes at Michigan State University's National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSC ... It is specifically designed for detecting neutrons stemming from breakup reactions of fast fragmentation beams ...
Modular Neutron Array - The MoNA Detector Array
... The Modular Neutron Array consists of 144 individual detector modules ... It measures both the position and time of neutron events with multiple-hit capability ... The energy of a neutron is based on a time-of-flight measurement ...
Stellar Rotation - Degenerate Stars - Neutron Star
... A neutron star is a highly dense remnant of a star that is primarily composed of neutrons—a particle that is found in most atomic nuclei and has no net ... The mass of a neutron star is in the range of 1.2 to 2.1 times the mass of the Sun ... As a result of the collapse, a newly formed neutron star can have a very rapid rate of rotation on the order of a hundred rotations per second ...
MIT Nuclear Research Reactor - Uses
... The MITR research program encompasses most aspects of neutron science and engineering including nuclear medicine ... Some of these activities are Boron neutron capture therapy Radiation synovectomy Neutron activation analysis for the identification of air pollutants and isotope ...