The neutron has a mass of . Neutrons emitted in nuclear reactions can be slowed down by collisions with matter. They are referred to as thermal neturons after they come into thermal equilibrium with the environment. The average kinetic energy of a thermal neutron is approximately 0.04 eV.
(a) Calculate the de Broglie wavelength of a neutron with a kinetic energy of 0.040 0 eV.
(b) How does your answer compare with the characteristic atomic spacing in a crystal?
(c) Explain whether you expect thermal neutrons to exhibit diffraction effects when scattered by a crystal.
