2. Basic properties of thermal neutrons

Despite the scarcity of sources, neutron beams are highly appreciated for their exceptional properties. Since they have no electric charge, they have no Coulombic interaction with matter, which facilitates their high penetration. Their main interaction is the "strong force", known for ensuring the cohesion of nucleons in nuclei, an interaction that gives neutrons a different behavior from that of electromagnetic radiation, in terms of absorption, but above all scattering. Neutrons react differently to different isotopes, and are particularly sensitive to light atoms, especially hydrogen.