Neutron in a Cold Environment: Effects?

[TungstenX]

Good day All,

A quick question:
(My knowledge / assumption): A neutron moves very fast and can go through almost anything, right?
What will happen if said neutron enters a very cold (as close to zero kelvin as possible) environment? (Will it slow down, etc?)


TX

 

[Vanadium 50]

(My knowledge / assumption): A neutron moves very fast and can go through almost anything, right?

No. Neutrons can have any velocity and they can be stopped by many common materials.

 

[TungstenX]

Thank you for the reply.
(Seems like you'll be around for a long time; (T_1/2)1.5×10¹⁷ years)

P.s. They mine you near Rustenburg


tʌŋstən

 

[Leperous]

(My knowledge / assumption): A neutron moves very fast and can go through almost anything, right?

Depends how much energy the neutron has. A neutron is uncharged so it's actually quite penetrative, but when it collides with an atomic nucleus it'll create a lot of secondary radiation - kind of why neutron bombs are so destructive.

What will happen if said neutron enters a very cold (as close to zero kelvin as possible) environment? (Will it slow down, etc?)

See above; depends on your neutron's kinetic energy (I'd have thought this is "typically" much greater than the thermal energy of the cold material).

 

[granpa]

might want to look up "thermal neutrons"

 

[Kevin_Axion]

One of those materials that deflect neutrons is beryllium. But we all know what happened in the critcality accident at Los Alamos.

 

[TungstenX]

Uhm, I'm outside the USA thus had to look it up:
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/01/29/Los-Alamos-warns-of-beryllium-exposure/UPI-72381233231615/"

 

[Drakkith]

Good day All,

A quick question:
(My knowledge / assumption): A neutron moves very fast and can go through almost anything, right?
What will happen if said neutron enters a very cold (as close to zero kelvin as possible) environment? (Will it slow down, etc?)


TX

As said above, Neutrons can move at any speed (under the speed of light of course). As with any small particle, it will not lose energy unless it can transfer its momentum/energy to it in a collision or something similar. Simply shooting Neutrons into a tank of liquid helium doesn't mean that ALL neutrons will be stopped, some will inevitably miss all the atoms and molecules and continue through with no slowdown.

 

[Kevin_Axion]

Yes that is true, but why reference the medicinal drugs?