photon

American  

[foh-ton] / ˈfoʊ tɒn /

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

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photon British  

/ 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

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photon Scientific  

/ fō′tŏn′ /

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

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photon Cultural  

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

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Etymology

Origin of photon

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

Example Sentences

GBS machines rely on photons, the basic particles of light, to generate probability calculations that would require thousands of years for even the fastest classical supercomputer to complete.

From Science Daily

Quantum communication follows a similar idea, but individual photons act as the information carriers.

From Science Daily

However, theory suggests that when two WIMPs collide, they annihilate each other and release energetic particles, including gamma ray photons.

From Science Daily

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

From Science Daily

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

From Science Daily