In nuclear engineering, a prompt neutron is a neutron immediately emitted by a nuclear fission event, as opposed to a delayed neutron decay which can occur within the same context, emitted after beta decay of one of the fission products anytime from a few milliseconds to a few minutes later.
Prompt neutrons are emitted with life times on the order of 10−22 seconds after exitation of the nuclide that emits the neutron. This emission is controlled by the nuclear force and is extremely fast. By contrast, so-called delayed neutrons are delayed by the time delay associated with beta decay (mediated by the weak force) to the precursor excited nuclide, after which neutron emission happens on a prompt time scale (i.e., almost immediately).
Read more about Prompt Neutron: Principle, Importance in Nuclear Fission Basic Research, Importance in Nuclear Reactors, Fraction Definitions
Famous quotes containing the word prompt:
“How prompt we are to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our bodies; how slow to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our souls!”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)