Re: "neutron chain reaction". I think you misunderstand. The weapon is producing neutrons, aka "MASS" traveling at high speed. When that MASS strikes other mass, there is NO atomic reaction(or like you said, "neutron chain reaction"). It's simply impacting other mass and causing any bonds that it may have, to be blown apart. The atomic bonds holding these elements like steel together can NOT withstand an impact from a freight train neutron striking the atoms that compose that steel. EVERYTHING was blown apart, except paper. The chances of a neutron particle striking the atoms that make up paper are slim to none. It's far to porous. The neutron's would miss the paper particles.
[–] ACatIsFineToo ago
That's not how radiation damage in crystalline materials works, though. It causes dislocations in the crystal lattice, hardening and embrittling the material. Neutron radiation doesn't blow apart metals, and the metallic bond structure in metals is actually great at absorbing impact and rebonding.
I will agree that a carbon based product like paper would absorb less radiation, but that's because the light elements have a lower "cross section" against radioactive particles.
Oh, so you've seen the affects of a neutron impacting a proton or neutron at high velocity? It sounds like you know how that works. Those bonds in steel are fine for stopping a bullet. That neutron doesn't target bonds or anything else. It's just a freight train plowing into whatever gets in it's way. It could care less what exotic super steel we've made. When it does make impact, whatever it is just blew apart into nothing but protens neutrons and electrons all reasembling into whatever makes it stable again.
[–] justjakk [S] ago
Also in Paul's research, you can find that steel will actually provide a path for the neutron's to travel. They become trapped in it, bouncing around from compound to compound. BTW, people where vaporized(body is almost all water) upon impact. They simply disappeared in an instant.