We point out that the baryon-loading problem in Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) models
can be amelioriated if a significant fraction of the baryons which inertially
confine the fireball are converted to neutrons. A high neutron fraction in some
circumstances can result in a reduced transfer of energy from relativistic
light particles in the fireball to baryons. The energy needed to produce the
required relativistic flow in the GRB is consequently reduced, in some cases by
orders of magnitude. This could be relevant to GRB models because a high
neutron-to-proton ratio has been calculated in neutron star-merger fireball
environments. Significant neutron excess also could occur near compact objects
with high neutrino fluxes.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let