delayed neutron

noun

A neutron produced by nuclear fission which is emitted upon the radioactive decay of a fission product nucleus sometime later, rather than at the time of the fission itself. Less than 2% of fission neutrons are delayed neutrons (the exact proportion depends on the nuclide being fissioned).

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Meanings

noundelayed neutron (plural delayed neutrons)

plural delayed neutrons

  1. nuclear physicsA neutron produced by nuclear fission which is emitted upon the radioactive decay of a fission product nucleus sometime later, rather than at the time of the fission itself. Less than 2% of fission neutrons are delayed neutrons (the exact proportion depends on the nuclide being fissioned).
Cite this entry
APA

delayed neutron. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/delayed%20neutron

MLA

“delayed neutron.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/delayed%20neutron. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “delayed neutron,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/delayed%20neutron.

Source: delayed neutron on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.