How Can Neutrons Be Moved Without an Electric Field?

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In summary: Then you hit it with a proton beam and the neutrons scatter off the particles and travel to the other end.
  • #1
piareround
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Ok so something been bother me about neutrons lately.

When want to move a bunch of neutrons from approx, point a to approx. point b, is around how do you it? I didn't yo couldn use a supwercollider since:
neutrons are neutrally charg; therefore, you cannnot move them with a intense electric fieldWhat else could you use to move or accelerate a neutron? you use?
could you move a neutron with other particles colliding into it?
 
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  • #2
Neutrons are most definitely moved in accelerators. While they are essentially neutral, they are also spin-1/2 particles.

Check out the Oak Ridge Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) as an example.

Neutron scattering is an amazing technology with a wide variety of applications, from crystalography to medical imaging. All of these involve accelerated neutrons.
 
  • #3
piareround said:
When want to move a bunch of neutrons from approx, point a to approx. point b, is around how do you it? I didn't yo couldn use a supwercollider since:
neutrons are neutrally charg; therefore, you cannnot move them with a intense electric field
Attach neutrons to charged particles, like to protons, and accelerate deuterons. When accelerated deuterons hit most targets, the neutrons are released.
What else could you use to move or accelerate a neutron? you use?
could you move a neutron with other particles colliding into it?

Ultra cold neutrons can be accelerated by gravity, ~9.81 meters per second2

"Neutrons are at once enigmatic and fundamental to all matter. Ultra-cold neutrons are even more elusive, with wavelengths greater than 500 angstroms and temperatures of 0.001 degrees Kelvin above absolute zero (460 degrees below zero Fahrenheit). They move at velocities slower than 25 feet a second and can only rise about 10 feet in height against the pull of gravity.

Physicists need ultra-cold neutrons because they can be confined in physical or magnetic bottles where they decay with a characteristic lifetime of about 15 minutes. After trapping them, researchers can measure such basic neutron properties as lifetime and decay correlations and search for possible new properties such as an electric dipole moment. Such data can lead to accurate measurements of fundamental constants of nature, advances in the quest for new particles predicted by unified field theories, and new insights into how matter began in the Big Bang."


from http://lanl.gov/news/index.php/fuseaction/home.story/story_id/2064

Bob S
 
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  • #4
http://neutrons.ornl.gov/science/ns_primer.pdf

That should provide some insight as well.
 
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  • #5
Neutrons have a magnetic moment
 
  • #6
Thanks guys this really helps to explaining things. I didn't even think about doing a reaction or about ultracold neutrons ^^.
 
  • #7
How do you get neutrons from point a to point b? You take a neutron source and surround it with neutron absorbing or reflecting material everywhere except for a small hole.
 

FAQ: How Can Neutrons Be Moved Without an Electric Field?

How do neutrons move within an atom?

Neutrons are subatomic particles found in the nucleus of an atom. They have a neutral charge and are held together by the strong nuclear force. Within the nucleus, neutrons can move in a variety of ways, including bouncing off of other particles and changing their direction due to the strong nuclear force.

Can neutrons change their position within an atom?

Yes, neutrons can change their position within an atom. This can occur through processes such as beta decay, in which a neutron transforms into a proton and an electron, or through nuclear reactions where neutrons are absorbed or emitted.

How do neutrons contribute to an atom's stability?

Neutrons play a crucial role in an atom's stability. They help to balance out the positive charge of the protons in the nucleus, preventing them from repelling each other and causing the nucleus to break apart. The number of neutrons in an atom also affects its stability, with certain isotopes being more stable than others.

Can neutrons be removed from an atom?

Yes, neutrons can be removed from an atom through processes such as radioactive decay or nuclear reactions. This can result in a different isotope of the element, with a different number of neutrons, or even a different element altogether.

How do scientists study the movement of neutrons?

Scientists can study the movement of neutrons using a variety of techniques, such as neutron scattering experiments or neutron diffraction. These methods involve shooting neutrons at a sample and analyzing the patterns of their movement, providing valuable information about the structure and behavior of materials at the atomic level.

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