A material used for neutron moderation, such as water or paraffin wax in the Fermi slow-neutron activation experiment.
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A neutron moderator is a material used in nuclear reactors to slow down fast neutrons produced during nuclear fission. The moderation process is crucial because slow (thermal) neutrons are more likely to induce fission when they collide with fissile materials, such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239. The effectiveness of a neutron moderator is primarily determined by its ability to interact with neutrons and reduce their kinetic energy through elastic scattering.