On Tue, Mar 26, 2013 at 9:15 AM, David Roberson <[email protected]> wrote:
I was considering the behavior of ultra low momentum neutrons within a > metallic structure and a question arose. Why would the local temperature > of the nickel atoms not completely dominate the activity of the low > momentum neutrons? > I think this is an interesting line of reasoning. I recall reading that it is the center of mass system that is important for reactions. Take a (hypothetical) near-stationary neutron and an energetic nickel lattice atom. I believe their interaction is characterized by the center-of-mass system that takes them both into account -- if the nickel atom is moving quickly towards the neutron, according to the center-of-mass system they are moving towards one another at equal velocities. Eric
