Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Neutron Radiative Decay Has Been Observed

As published in Nature this week, the first ever observation of a neutron radiative decay has been accomplished[1]. This decay is different from your typical, more familiar neutron beta decay, where a neutron decays into a proton, electron, and an electron antineutrino. In a neutron radiative decay, which occurs in free neutrons, you get the same 3 products PLUS the emission of a photon. This is one particular channel of decay that has been predicted by QED but never observed till now.

Looks like another triumph for QED.

Zz.

[1] J.S. Nico, J. S. et al., Nature v.444, p.1059 (2006).

Edit: News coverage here.

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