Editing Neutron radiation (section)

== Ionization mechanisms and properties ==
Neutron radiation is often called ''indirectly [[ionizing radiation]]''. It does not ionize atoms in the same way that charged particles such as [[proton]]s and [[electron]]s do (exciting an electron), because neutrons have no charge. However, neutron interactions are largely ionizing, for example when neutron absorption results in gamma emission and the [[gamma ray]] (photon) subsequently removes an electron from an atom, or a nucleus recoiling from a neutron interaction is ionized and causes more traditional subsequent ionization in other atoms. Because neutrons are uncharged, they are more penetrating than [[alpha radiation]] or [[beta radiation]]. In some cases they are more penetrating than gamma radiation, which is impeded in materials of high [[atomic number]]. In materials of low atomic number such as [[hydrogen]], a low energy gamma ray may be more penetrating than a high energy neutron.