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Glite Dictionary
microgauss

microgauss

9.9
A very small unit for measuring magnetic fields, equal to one millionth of a gauss
  • noun
  • /ˈmaɪkroʊˌɡɔs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : microgauss
  • The magnetic field in the lab was measured at just a few microgauss to ensure sensitive experiments could proceed without interference.

Examples

  • Astronomers use microgauss to describe extremely weak magnetic fields found in distant galaxies.

  • We infer this because we know (from optical and radio observations) that there is a disordered magnetic field (of a few microgauss) throughout the interstellar medium in which the cosmic rays travel.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Nonetheless, it turns out that these fields are in the range of a few microgauss.

    Academic text (2002)

  • And, sure enough, these very early galaxies appear to possess microgauss (or even stronger) magnetic fields.

    Academic text (2002)

  • A single microgauss is one millionth of a gauss, highlighting its use in precise scientific measurements.

Surface Forms

microgauss singular
microgausses plural

Morphology

microgauss = gauss (transparent) = micro + gauss

The meaning is directly compositional: 'micro-' means one millionth and 'gauss' is the relevant unit, so the whole word means one millionth of a gauss.

Etymology

Microgauss joins micro- (a root that means 'small', as in microscope and microchip) and gauss, the unit named after the scientist Gauss that measures magnetic strength. So a microgauss is a 'very small' part of a gauss and is used to talk about very weak magnetic fields.