photon

[foh-ton]

noun

1. a quantum of electromagnetic radiation, usually considered as an elementary particle that is its own antiparticle and that has zero rest mass and charge and a spin of one. γ

photon

/ ˈfəʊtɒn /

noun

1. a quantum of electromagnetic radiation, regarded as a particle with zero rest mass and charge, unit spin, and energy equal to the product of the frequency of the radiation and the Planck constant

photon

1. The subatomic particle that carries the electromagnetic force and is the quantum of electromagnetic radiation. The photon has a rest mass of zero, but has measurable momentum, exhibits deflection by a gravitational field, and can exert a force. It has no electric charge, has an indefinitely long lifetime, and is its own antiparticle.

2. See Note at electromagnetic radiation See Table at subatomic particle

photon

1. The quantum, or bundle of energy, in which light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation are emitted. (See atom.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of photon¹

First recorded in 1900–05; phot- + -on ¹

Example Sentences

When two photons strike the particle at the same moment and are absorbed together, they can remove a single electron.

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Researchers are exploring a new generation of computers that operate using light, or photons, instead of electrical currents.

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Resolve can precisely measure the energy of individual X-ray photons, so the scientists anticipated seeing fine-grained details that had never been captured before.

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After a photon is absorbed, an electron naturally moves to a neighboring molecule of the same type, creating charge separation.

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The result is a self-organized flow of photons into the designated output channel -- without any need for external switches.

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