heavy ion

American  

noun

1. the nucleus of a heavy element.

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heavy ion Scientific  

1. The nucleus of a heavy element, such as gold. Collisions of heavy ions are induced in particle accelerators to explore the internal structure quark structure of the nuclei; recent experiments suggest that the extremely high temperatures generated by such collisions can create a short-lived plasma of quarks and gluons.

2. A charged microscopic particle that forms when ions attach to a dust mote or similar object.

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Example Sentences

Gating, in contrast, occurs when a heavy ion flow disrupts the charge balance and destabilizes the pore's structure.

From Science Daily • Nov. 11, 2025

Data from heavy ion collisions give new insight into the electromagnetic properties of quark-gluon plasma 'deconfined' from protons and neutrons.

From Science Daily • May 17, 2024

Until his federal retirement in 1986, he worked for the Naval Research Laboratory and the Energy Department, where he was a program manager specializing in heavy ion inertial fusion.

From Washington Post • Sep. 16, 2015