Radioactive weaponry known as neutron bombs emitted intense radioactivity, effectively contaminating an entire planet, or poisoning it. Their main purpose was to drastically weaken enemy forces on a planet, paving the way for Imperial soldiers, especially specialized radtroopers, to seize control of strategically important structures or materials. Because a neutron bomb leaves behind dangerously high levels of radiation, any living thing without protection would be barred from entering the affected zone for a considerable duration. Following the collapse of the Empire, neutron bombs saw little use because their manufacture had ceased.