free electron

noun

Physics.

1. an electron that is not attached to an atom or molecule and is free to respond to outside forces.

free electron

noun

1. any electron that is not attached to an ion, atom, or molecule and is free to move under the influence of an applied electric or magnetic field

Word History and Origins

Origin of free electron¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

"By learning how to tame free electrons, we can imagine a future with faster computers, smarter machines, and new technologies we haven't even dreamed of yet."

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The team used a powerful laser, called a soft X-ray free electron laser, to emit ultrafast pulses of illumination at the speed of femtoseconds, or quadrillionths of a second.

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"What a fantastic scenario: Using free electrons to store CO2 and converting it to revenue-generating products is a concept I never would have imagined 10 years back, but this is just a start."

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In momentum space, free electrons are found in the local minima and maxima of the energy landscape, namely at points where the conduction and valence bands meet.

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The laser light can free electrons to momentarily vacate a desk, or 'hole' as physicists call them.

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