Deuteron

(nuclear physics) The nucleus of a deuterium atom, consisting of a neutron and a proton. Designated d. Also known as deuton.

The nucleus of the atom of heavy hydrogen, ²H (deuterium). The deuteron d is composed of a proton and a neutron; it is the simplest multinucleon nucleus. Its binding energy is 2.227 MeV; that is, this is the amount of energy which must be added to a deuteron for it to dissociate into a proton and a neutron. Deuterons are much used as projectiles in nuclear bombardment experiments. See also Deuterium; Nuclear reaction.