How do photons interact with nuetrons or other uncharged particles?

[Mu naught]

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?

 

[DaveC426913]

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?

What makes you think they do?

 

[Mu naught]

Well maybe they don't.

If I have a dense mass of neutrons and a photon strikes it what would happen? Would it pass through or will it interact with one of the neutrons?

 

[DaveC426913]

Apparently, the answer is that they can interact through the magnetic moment of the neutron. While it is indeed neutral, the neutron is still comprised of three quarks, one of which is negative.

http://ww.space.com/common/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=4527
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_magnetic_moment