Is a photon able to transfer an impulse to a neutron or, and this is the same, can light accelerate a neutron?
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Neutron has electric and magnetic polarizability (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron), so light can polarize neutron, which in turn will emmit light as a result of being polarized. The net process will be light scattering of the neutron. Since light can carry momentum it is probably possible to conceive of experimental setup where momentum carried by light will be passed onto neutron as a result of light scattering.
Cryo
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Yes, a sufficiently energetic photon can accelerate a lone neutron. The kinetic energy imparted to the neutron reduces the photon's wavelength (redshifts it) by the same amount, so the total energy of the system remains the same. Outside the nucleus, the neutron has a half-life of about 10.5 minutes.
Michael Walsby
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Good point about lone neutron. That was what I was thinking about. – HolgerFiedler Jul 02 '19 at 20:08
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I quoted your answer for a question Will a free neutron radiate if it is de-accelerated? – HolgerFiedler Jul 02 '19 at 20:43