neutron Constituent of the atomic nucleus. Its principal properties are listed in Table nI.
Table nI. Properties of neutron
|
charge |
0 |
|
rest mass |
1.67482´ 10-27kg or 939.550MeV or 1.008665u |
|
spin |
1/2 |
|
magnetic moment |
-1.9128 nuclear magneton |
|
half life |
~ 12 minutes |
A free neutron is unstable and decays via the beta decay. Neutrons have negative magnetic moment. It arises because of its uneven positive and negative charge distribution, in the neutron ( see quark model under elementary particles ).