Neutron capture is a specific type of nuclear reaction where an atomic nucleus collides with one or more neutrons, resulting in the formation of a heavier nucleus. This process is fundamental to nuclear physics and the synthesis of new elements.
The mechanism is facilitated by the fact that neutrons possess no electric charge. Because they lack this charge, they are not subject to the electrostatic repulsion that typically prevents positively charged particles, such as protons, from entering an atomic nucleus. This allows neutrons to merge with nuclei with relative ease.