Feynman diagram

American  

noun

Physics.

1. a network of lines that represents a series of emissions and absorptions of elementary particles by other elementary particles, from which the probability of the series can be calculated.

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Feynman diagram British  

/ ˈfaɪnmən /

noun

1. physics a graphical representation of the interactions between elementary particles

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Feynman diagram Scientific  

1. A diagram used to help describe and visualize the possible interactions between particles in quantum electrodynamics and quantum chromodynamics. Fermions, such as electrons, are represented with straight lines and bosons, such as photons, with wavy lines. Points of intersection indicate an interaction, such as an electromagnetic interaction, between the particles.

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Etymology

Origin of Feynman diagram

1965–70; named after R. P. Feynman, who devised it

Example Sentences

Figure 33.21 The exchange of a virtual Z 0 carries the weak nuclear force between an electron and a neutrino in this Feynman diagram.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

Figure 33.5 The Feynman diagram for the exchange of a virtual photon between two positive charges illustrates how the electromagnetic force is transmitted on a quantum mechanical scale.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

A pictorial representation of this process, known as a Feynman diagram, is shown in Fig. 1a.

From Nature • May 12, 2015

Most importantly, the use of the Feynman diagram activates a function known as renormalization that enables the infinities to be ‘subtracted’ out, mathematically speaking.

From Scientific American • Mar. 22, 2013

“For decades, there has not been an issue of the Physical Review,” he says, reverentially, “that did not have a Feynman diagram in it.”

From Washington Post • Sep. 30, 2011