neutronization
/ˌnjuːtrɒnʌɪˈzeɪʃn/ /ˌnjuːtrənʌɪˈzeɪʃn/Astronomy and Physics
noun
The conversion of a proton and an electron to a neutron and a neutrino, especially in processes occurring within stars. Also: the transmutation of a nucleus by the conversion of some or all of its protons to neutrons.
Origin
1960s; earliest use found in Soviet Physics JETP. From neutron + -ization.