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News Release 06-177
Researchers Observe Rare Light-emitting Decay of Neutrons
Discovery could pave the way for "new physics"
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Typically, a neutron free of its atom will decay into three particles: a proton, an electron and an antineutrino. Rarely, a process called radiative neutron decay also occurs, resulting in the same three particles as well as additional photons of light.
Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation
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To observe radiative decay photons, the researchers carefully measured when the decay products in a beam of neutrons--that is, protons, electrons, antineutrinos, and sometimes photons--arrived at a detector. If radiative decay occurs, according to theory, photons and electrons will arrive 20-millionths of a second sooner than the slower protons. Antineutrinos are too weak to be detected.
Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation
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