hot atom


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hot atom

[′häd ¦ad·əm]
(nucleonics)
An atom that has high internal or kinetic energy as a result of a nuclear process such as beta decay or neutron capture.
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References in periodicals archive ?
Thermal-beam clocks, in contrast, use fast-moving streams of relatively hot atoms to mark time.
Zacharias of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology attempted unsuccessfully to make a fountain clock using hot atoms.
Tossing cold atoms like confetti, atomic-fountain clocks launch a new era in timekeeping

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