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The mysterious power of neutron radiation: How does it affect our daily lives?
Neutron radiation is a type of ionizing radiation that occurs in the form of free neutrons. In our daily lives, this invisible radiation force not only affects the development of science and technology, but also subtly influences the structure and function of organisms and materials. Usually, neutrons are released by nuclear reactions such as nuclear fission or nuclear fusion. The presence of these neutrons triggers new chemical reactions and even changes the nature of matter.
Neutron radiation not only exists in nuclear power generation, but is also closely related to our environment and even plays a key role in radiation therapy.
Before understanding how neutron radiation affects our lives, it is important to first understand where this radiation comes from. Nuclear reactors and particle accelerators are the main sources of neutron radiation, and interactions with cosmic rays can also produce cosmic neutrons. Neutron radiation has unique properties compared to other types of radiation (such as alpha, beta, and gamma radiation) because they interact with matter in a non-electrically charged manner and the damage they cause is often more widespread.
Sources and characteristics of neutron radiation
The most common neutron radiation comes from slow and fast neutrons released during nuclear fission. Slow neutrons have relatively low energy and can be easily captured by atomic nuclei, thereby promoting nuclear transformation. In contrast, fast neutrons are commonly used in fast reactors and in some nuclear weapon designs. Different types of neutrons affect materials and organisms differently, depending on their energy transfer and interactions.
The capture efficiency of slow neutrons and fast neutrons is different, which directly affects the controllability and sustainability of nuclear reactions.
Applications of Neutron Radiation
Neutron radiation has many applications in scientific research and everyday life. For example, in materials science, cold, hot, and thermal neutrons are used in scattering and diffraction experiments to help scientists understand the structure and properties of matter. At the same time, neutron radiation is also widely used in tumor treatment, effectively destroying cancer cells through boron neutron capture therapy.
In addition, neutron imaging techniques are rapidly developing and being used for industrial component inspection, such as neutron radiography and neutron digital imaging. These technologies play an indispensable role in the nuclear energy industry, aerospace industry and high-reliability explosives industry.
Health Hazards and Protection
While neutron radiation is beneficial in many ways, it is also a potential health hazard. Neutron radiation can cause radiation activation during its interaction with matter, causing the material it contacts, including human tissue, to become radioactive. The penetrating power of this radiation makes it a source of danger to the entire organism, especially in case of exposure to external radiation sources.
Compared to conventional ionizing radiation, the biological effects of neutron radiation are more significant, and its relative biological effectiveness is about ten times that of gamma or beta radiation.
Among the effective protective measures, common shielding materials are water or hydrogen-rich hydrocarbons, such as polyethylene or paraffin, which can effectively slow down the speed of neutrons and reduce their damage to living things. The shielding effectiveness of concrete and gravel is also quite economical.
Effects of neutron radiation on materials
The impact of high-energy neutrons on materials cannot be ignored. After being irradiated, they will cause impact and decay of the materials. Neutron bombardment causes defects and dislocations inside the material and changes its microstructure. Materials exposed to neutron radiation for a long time may become brittle or expand. For example, the reaction vessel in a nuclear reactor exposed to neutron flux for a long time will Significantly shorten its service life.
Defects and dislocations in materials drive changes in their microstructure over time, which is one of the main research focuses in materials science today.
Future research directions of neutron radiation
As nuclear energy technology develops and related health research deepens, the understanding and application of neutron radiation will continue to expand. We may see more new proposals for using neutron radiation for treatment, detection, and materials science research. However, we must also face the risks and challenges associated with neutron radiation, especially in terms of protecting human health and environmental safety.
In future technological development, how should we balance the benefits and potential risks of neutron radiation to ensure a safer living environment and longer-lasting technological progress?
