Mu naught said:Its easy to understand how a photon can transfer momentum to a charged particle like an electron, but I'm not sure how it would interact with something like a neutron or neutrino.
Could someone explain briefly?
Photons interact with neutrons and other uncharged particles through the electromagnetic force. This force is carried by the photon, which acts as a messenger particle between the two particles. When a photon comes into contact with a neutron or other uncharged particle, it can either be absorbed, scattered, or produce new particles.
The energy of a photon plays a crucial role in its interaction with neutrons or other uncharged particles. Photons with higher energy have shorter wavelengths and are more likely to be absorbed or produce new particles upon interaction. On the other hand, lower energy photons are more likely to be scattered.
Yes, photons can interact with neutrons or other uncharged particles without direct contact through the process of quantum tunneling. This phenomenon allows particles to pass through potential barriers, such as the electric field of an uncharged particle, without the need for physical contact.
Yes, photons can have different interactions with neutrons compared to other uncharged particles due to their different compositions and properties. Neutrons, being made up of three quarks, have a small magnetic moment that can interact with the photon's electric field. This can lead to different scattering or absorption patterns compared to other uncharged particles.
The interaction between photons and neutrons or other uncharged particles can be affected by the medium in which they are traveling. For example, in a dense material, such as lead, photons are more likely to interact with the particles within the material, leading to higher rates of absorption or scattering. In contrast, in a vacuum, photons are more likely to travel long distances without interacting with any particles.