photoionization
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˌfoʊtoʊˌaɪənaɪˈzeɪʃən/
- Specialized
- The researchers studied how ultraviolet light induces photoionization in gas clouds, leading to the formation of new ions.
Examples
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Dr. Isenberg earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and has published papers on cyclotron scattering in neutron stars and the photoionization of sodium.
Blog text (27) -
The spectrum falls at low energies due to photoionization and at high energies due to Compton losses.
Academic text (2006) -
They fit various atmospheric models to their data, which take into account radiative transfer and chemical equilibrium, but do not take into account haze or photoionization.
Blog text (7) -
Understanding photoionization is crucial for explaining how stars influence their surrounding environments through energetic radiation.
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During the experiment, they observed that photoionization could significantly alter the chemical composition of the gas.
Synonyms
9
7.0
Atoms and molecules become charged by gaining or losing electrons
1
8.8
Electrons leave a material when light shines on it
When a material absorbs very strong light, it releases electrons
Surface Forms
Morphology
photoionization = ionization (semi-transparent) = photo + ion + ization
The word is formed by adding the scientific prefix 'photo-' to 'ionization', but the technical combining form makes it less immediately accessible to average learners.
Etymology
The word photoionization is made of familiar parts: photo- means 'light', as in photograph, ion means 'a charged particle', and -ization means 'making' or 'a process'. So photoionization is the process of 'making ions by light', which explains why it means light causing atoms or molecules to lose electrons and become charged.