A heavy nucleus (e.g. ²³⁵U, ²³⁹Pu) captures a neutron and splits into lighter fragments plus ~2–3 prompt neutrons plus ~200 MeV of energy. Neutron multiplication enables chain reactions.
A heavy nucleus (e.g. ²³⁵U, ²³⁹Pu) captures a neutron and splits into lighter fragments plus ~2–3 prompt neutrons plus ~200 MeV of energy. Neutron multiplication enables chain reactions.