point source

noun

Physics, Optics.

1. a source of radiation sufficiently distant compared to its length and width that it can be considered as a point.

point source

noun

1. optics a source of light or other radiation that can be considered to have negligible dimensions

Word History and Origins

Origin of point source¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

One PSF basically describes how an infinitely small point source of light originating in the sample is widened and spread into a three-dimensional diffraction pattern by the optical system.

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"But declining levels of phosphorus, particularly in rivers flowing through urban areas, suggests that efforts to control phosphorus pollution from point sources such as wastewater treatment plants are working."

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Researchers developed a method to automatically detect methane emissions at a global scale, potentially providing methane detection at high frequency and high resolution from point sources.

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They assumed then that the quasar's light stemmed from a single, star-like "point source."

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They discovered that diesel-powered vehicles emitted about half of the nitrogen oxides from road vehicles, while additional pollutants such as benzene were emitted from other point sources, including nearby petrochemical refineries.

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