Article
Article
Delayed neutron
Article By:
Snell, Arthur H. Formerly, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Last reviewed:January 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.184300
A neutron emitted spontaneously from a nucleus as a consequence of excitation remaining from a preceding radioactive decay event. Analogously, delayed emission of protons and alpha particles is observed, but the known delayed-neutron emitters are more numerous, and some of them have practical implications. In particular, they are important in the control of nuclear chain reactors. See also: Chain reaction (physics); Nuclear reactor
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