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Murdock
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I know that sufficiently energetic protons and photons (1.7MeV) can knock a neutron out of a beryllium nucleus. Can an electron do the same?
Mike_In_Plano said:mfb,
Agreed. Back in the days Van De Grafs were used, millions of volts were routinely developed. Then again, they were pressed into using high pressure containment to mitigate arcing. It does beg the question, what is a reasonable voltage for commercial use?
Yes, electrons can knock out neutrons in certain situations. This is known as the process of neutron decay or beta decay.
Electrons, being negatively charged particles, interact with neutrons, which have no charge. This interaction can cause a neutron to turn into a proton, releasing an electron and an anti-neutrino in the process.
This process can have important implications in nuclear reactions and decay processes. It can also help scientists understand the structure of atoms and the behavior of subatomic particles.
Yes, in certain nuclear reactions, electrons can knock out multiple neutrons at once. This is known as multi-neutron emission.
The process occurs naturally in certain unstable isotopes, but it is not a common occurrence in everyday life. It is more commonly observed in laboratory experiments and nuclear reactions.