thermal neutrons

British  

plural noun

1. slow neutrons that are approximately in thermal equilibrium with a moderator. They have a distribution of speeds similar to that of the molecules of a gas at the temperature of the moderator. Data concerning nuclear interactions are often given for standard thermal neutrons of speed 2200 metres per second, which is approximately the most probable speed at normal laboratory temperatures

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Example Sentences

The team adopted the well-known instrumental neutron activation analysis method, where a trace element in a chosen sample is irradiated and activated by the capture of thermal neutrons.

From Science Daily • Jan. 4, 2024

Why can heavy nuclei with odd numbers of neutrons be induced to fission with thermal neutrons, whereas those with even numbers of neutrons require more energy input to induce fission?

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

Boron can be injected into water coolant systems to control the activity of a reactor core because boron is a strong neutron absorber, especially for thermal neutrons.

From Scientific American • Mar. 15, 2011