thermal neutron
Noun
Meaning
thermal neutron (plural thermal neutrons)
(physics) A relatively slow-moving neutron whose energy is governed by the temperature of its environment.
Examples
A thermal neutron is one which is moving about the same speed as the atoms around it.
In many substances, thermal neutron reactions show a much larger effective cross-section than reactions involving faster neutrons, and thermal neutrons can therefore be absorbed more readily (i.
The excitation energy within the compound nucleus is formed from the binding energy of the thermal neutron with the target nucleus.
These reactors are fueled with natural uranium and are thermal neutron reactor designs.
This is a thermal neutron reactor design.