secondary emission

noun

1. the emission of electrons secondary electrons from a material that is bombarded with electrons or ions.

secondary emission

noun

1. physics the emission of electrons ( secondary electrons ) from a solid as a result of bombardment with a beam of electrons, ions, or metastable atoms: used in electron multipliers

secondary emission

1. The emission of electrons or ions from a material, caused by collisions of electrons or other charged particles with the material. Electron multipliers, photomultipliers, and Geiger counters all work by means of secondary emission.

Word History and Origins

Origin of secondary emission¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

It accounted for over 95 percent of total spot and secondary emissions offset trading.

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The crystal's impurities are almost invisible to the unaided eye," answered Vly, "but the laser hits the impurities and causes secondary emissions of light of all sorts of color-the more impurities, the more colors.

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