positron

American  

[poz-i-tron] / ˈpɒz ɪˌtrɒn /

noun

Physics.

1. an elementary particle having the same mass and spin as an electron but having a positive charge equal in magnitude to that of the electron's negative charge; the antiparticle of the electron.

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positron British  

/ ˈpɒzɪˌtrɒn /

noun

1. physics the antiparticle of the electron, having the same mass but an equal and opposite charge. It is produced in certain decay processes and in pair production, annihilation occurring when it collides with an electron

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positron Scientific  

/ pŏz′ĭ-trŏn′ /

1. The antiparticle that corresponds to an electron.

2. Also called antielectron

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positron Cultural  

1. The antiparticle for an electron; it has the same mass as an electron, but carries a positive charge.

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Discover More

Positrons are found in collisions initiated by cosmic rays.

Etymology

Origin of positron

First recorded in 1930–35; posi(tive) + (elec)tron

Example Sentences

This large computing power was essential to solve Maxwell's equations and the equations of motion for electrons and positrons according to Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity.

From Science Daily

However, detecting electrons and positrons with energies of several teraelectronvolts is particularly challenging.

From Science Daily

One type fires electrons into their antimatter counterparts, positrons, but these e+e- colliders struggle to reach high energies.

From Science Magazine

Positronium, on the other hand, consists of an electron and its antimatter equivalent, a positron.

From BBC

If the gamma ray energy gets too high, however, the rays can instead transform into pairs of electrons and positrons and stop exerting pressure.

From Science Magazine