On Tue, Apr 23, 2013 at 3:22 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: 58Ni + n => 59Ni + 9 MeV. > > This results in a 59Ni nucleus in an excited state, and it soon loses the > 9 MeV > of energy in the form of gamma radiation as it decays to the ground state. >
I think you're addressing a specific point. It's interesting to note that unless there's a gamma thermalization mechanism, this kind of reaction will both be deadly and will not result in much heat. I suspect it is the kinetic energy of the decay products that causes the majority of heat. Eric
