How do you get free neutrons?
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Normally, neutrons are bound in the atomic nucleus. They can be set free by nuclear reactions. Free neutrons are unstable, they decay with a half-life of about 15 Minutes into a proton, an electron and an antineutrino. There are different types of neutron sources which use various processes for the release of neutrons. Nuclear fission and spallation are very efficient, but they require large scale facilites. Lately, smaller facilities using accelerators or lasers have been developed. |