Editing Neutron flux (section)

==Natural neutron flux==
Neutron flux in [[asymptotic giant branch]] [[star]]s and in [[supernovae]] is responsible for most of the natural [[nucleosynthesis]] producing [[Chemical element|element]]s heavier than [[iron]]. In stars there is a relatively low neutron flux on the order of 10<sup>5</sup> to 10<sup>11</sup> cm<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>, resulting in nucleosynthesis by the [[s-process]] (slow neutron-capture process). By contrast, after a core-collapse supernova, there is an extremely high neutron flux, on the order of 10<sup>32</sup> cm<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Burbidge |first1=E. Margaret |last2=Burbidge |first2=G. R. |last3=Fowler|first3=William A.|last4=Hoyle|first4=F. |date=October 1957 |title=Synthesis of the Elements in Stars |journal=Reviews of Modern Physics |volume=29 |issue=4 |pages=548–650 |doi=10.1103/RevModPhys.29.547 |doi-access=free |bibcode=1957RvMP...29..547B }}</ref> resulting in nucleosynthesis by the [[r-process]] (rapid neutron-capture process).

Earth atmospheric neutron flux, apparently from thunderstorms, can reach levels of 3·10<sup>−2</sup> to 9·10<sup>+1</sup> cm<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gurevich |first1=A. V. |last2=Antonova |first2=V. P. |year=2012 |title=Strong Flux of Low-Energy Neutrons Produced by Thunderstorms |journal=Physical Review Letters |volume=108 |issue=12 |page= 125001|publisher=American Physical Society |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.125001 |bibcode = 2012PhRvL.108l5001G |pmid=22540588}} 
</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gurevich |first1=A. V. |last2=Almenova |first2=A. M. |year=2016 |title=Observations of high-energy radiation during thunderstorms at Tien-Shan |journal=Physical Review D |volume=94 |issue=2 |page= 023003|publisher=American Physical Society |doi=10.1103/PhysRevD.94.023003|bibcode=2016PhRvD..94b3003G }} 
</ref> However, recent results<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Alekseenko |first1=V. |last2=Arneodo |first2=F. |last3=Bruno |first3=G. |last4=Di Giovanni |first4=A. |last5=Fulgion |first5=W. |last6=Gromushkin |first6=D. |last7=Shchegolev |first7=O. |last8=Stenkin |first8=Yu. |last9=Stepanov |first9=V. |last10=Sulakov |first10=V. |last11=Yashin |first11=I. |year=2015 |title=Decrease of Atmospheric Neutron Counts Observed during Thunderstorms |journal=Physical Review Letters |volume=114 |issue=12 |page=125003 |publisher=American Physical Society |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.125003 |pmid=25860750 |bibcode = 2015PhRvL.114l5003A|url=https://www.openaccessrepository.it/record/140269 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319173859/https://www.openaccessrepository.it/record/140269 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 March 2024 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> (considered invalid by the original investigators<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gurevich |first1=A. V. |last2=Ptitsyn |first2=M. O. |year=2015 |title=Comment on "Decrease of Atmospheric Neutron Counts Observed during Thunderstorms" |journal=Physical Review Letters |volume=115 |issue=12 |page= 179501|publisher=American Physical Society |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.179501|bibcode=2015PhRvL.115q9501G |pmid=26551144 }}</ref>) obtained with unshielded scintillation neutron detectors show a decrease in the neutron flux during thunderstorms. Recent research appears to support lightning generating 10<sup>13</sup>–10<sup>15</sup> neutrons per discharge via [[Photodisintegration|photonuclear processes]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Köhn |first1=Christoph |last2=Diniz |first2=Gabriel |last3=Harakeh |first3=GMushin |year=2017 |title=Production mechanisms of leptons, photons, and hadrons and their possible feedback close to lightning leaders|journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres |volume=122 |issue=2 |pages= 1366|publisher=American Geophysical Union |doi=10.1002/2016JD025445 |bibcode =2017JGRD..122.1365K   |pmid= 28357174|pmc=5349290 }} 
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