The radiative beta-decay mode of the free neutron

This report is dedicated to theoretical investigation of the rare, radiativ e neutron decay mode, which, unlike that of other elementary particles, has never been investigated experimentally. This new kind of neutron experimen t allows us to directly test part of the radiative corrections, whose contr ibution is presently estimated at 1.5% of the total neutron beta-decay prob ability. A comparison between the description of neutron radiative decay an d nuclear radiative beta-decay is given. Results of theoretical evaluations of radiative corrections, given in literature, are discussed. (C) 2000 Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.