🔬 A special laser ⚛️ A short-lived molecule

excimer

1 9.9

A molecule that lasts a very short time when one atom has extra energy and joins another

noun
/ˈɛksaɪmər/

Specialized

: excímer

The scientist created an excimer to study its properties in the laboratory.

Examples

Researchers are developing a new excimer that could enhance UV laser technology.
It's an excimer, frozen in its excited state.

Real Genius (1985)
An excimer laser is crucial for performing precise eye surgery.

Surface Forms

excimer singular

excimers plural

Morphology

excimer = excited + dimer (opaque) = exci + mer

A technical blend of 'excited' + 'dimer' whose clipped combining forms are not inferable to average learners without domain knowledge.

Etymology

Excimer comes from the words excited and dimer, where dimer means 'a pair' and excited means 'having extra energy'. So, an excimer is a short-lived molecule made of two atoms when one has extra energy, which explains why it is unstable.