The influence of free neutrons on dynamics and radiation of astrophysical plasmas

We present arguments in favor of the presence of free neutrons in plasmas generated by compact astrophysical objects and find conditions necessary for the formation of the neutron component. The broad range of phenomena caused by neutrons includes both dynamical (sources’ variability, transition of fireballs to the two-flow regime) and kinetic (fission of helium nuclei by neutrons, electromagnetic cascade, emission in annihilation and nuclear lines, neutrino losses) effects. The presented theory can be applied to internal regions of accretion disks, jets in microquasars, and gamma-ray burst (GRB) fireballs.