heavy ion
Americannoun
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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.
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A charged microscopic particle that forms when ions attach to a dust mote or similar object.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
