synchrotron radiation

American  

noun

1. electromagnetic radiation emitted by charged particles as they pass through magnetic fields.

---

synchrotron radiation British  

noun

1. electromagnetic radiation emitted in narrow beams tangential to the orbit of very high energy charged particles, such as electrons, spiralling along the lines of force in a strong magnetic field. It occurs in synchrotron accelerators and in many cosmic environments, such as radio galaxies and supernova remnants

---

synchrotron radiation Scientific  

1. Electromagnetic radiation emitted by high-energy particles that are moving in a circular path, as in a synchrotron particle accelerator. Energy lost by synchrotron radiation increases rapidly as particles approach the speed of light.

---

Etymology

Origin of synchrotron radiation

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Researchers say the white color is light from synchrotron radiation, which is emitted across the electromagnetic spectrum, including the near-infrared.

From Science Daily • Dec. 12, 2023

In particular, Webb highlights what is known as synchrotron radiation: emission produced from charged particles, like electrons, moving around magnetic field lines at relativistic speeds.

From Science Daily • Oct. 30, 2023

Editor’s Note: Yusef-Zadeh explains that these long, vertical filaments turned out to be made of synchrotron radiation, which is produced by particles moving at nearly the speed of light through a magnetic field.

From Scientific American • Jun. 22, 2023

That synchrotron radiation saps the electrons’ energy, so when accelerators were built just for experiments in particle physics, it was an unavoidable waste.

From Science Magazine • May 3, 2023

Radiation caused by a magnetic field accelerating a charged particle perpendicular to its velocity is called synchrotron radiation in honor of its importance in these machines.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015