axion

[ ak-see-on ]

noun

, Physics.

1. a hypothetical particle having no charge, zero spin, and small mass: postulated in some forms of quantum chromodynamics.

axion

/ ˈæksɪˌon /

noun

1. physics a hypothetical neutral elementary particle postulated to account for certain conservation laws in the strong interaction

Word History and Origins

Origin of axion¹

1978; perhaps axi(al current) + -on ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of axion¹

C20: from axi ( om ) + -on

Example Sentences

The most likely dark matter candidate today is the axion, a lightweight particle that researchers around the world are desperately trying to find.

From Science Daily

Astrophysicists at the University of California, Berkeley, now argue that the axion could be discovered within seconds of the detection of gamma rays from a nearby supernova explosion.

From Science Daily

Yet, a single detection of gamma rays would pinpoint the mass of the axion, in particular the so-called QCD axion, over a huge range of theoretical masses, including mass ranges now being scoured in experiments on Earth.

From Science Daily

The lack of a detection, however, would eliminate a large range of potential masses for the axion, and make most current dark matter searches irrelevant.

From Science Daily

They have even proposed a name for their full-sky gamma-ray satellite constellation -- the GALactic AXion Instrument for Supernova, or GALAXIS.

From Science Daily