alpha ray

American  

noun

Physics.

1. a stream of alpha particles.

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alpha ray British  

noun

1. ionizing radiation consisting of a stream of alpha particles

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alpha ray Scientific  

1. A stream of alpha particles.

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Etymology

Origin of alpha ray

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Now Geiger has investigated and proved the existence of scattering of the alpha ray by solids.

From The Birth-Time of the World and Other Scientific Essays by Joly, John

Bragg and Kleeman, on path of the alpha ray, 215; stopping power, 219; laws affecting ionisation by alpha rays, 220; curve of ionisation and structure of the halo, 232.

From The Birth-Time of the World and Other Scientific Essays by Joly, John

This is due to the bombardment of the zinc sulphide by a type of ray called the alpha ray.

From A Brief Account of Radio-activity by Venable, Francis Preston

When the alpha ray has sufficiently slowed down, its power of passing right through atoms, without appreciably experiencing any effects from them, diminishes.

From The Birth-Time of the World and Other Scientific Essays by Joly, John

The alpha ray carries a positive charge of double the ionic amount.

From The Birth-Time of the World and Other Scientific Essays by Joly, John