pseudoscalar
1
9.9
- adjective
- /ˈsuːdoʊˌskɛlər/
- Specialized
- In particle physics, a pseudoscalar field changes sign when the spatial coordinates are inverted.
Examples
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When a similar derivation is repeated for a photon, one finds that the scalar coupling leads to a fine-structure constant that varies in space and time and that the pseudoscalar coupling takes essentially the same form as the last term in equation 1.
Academic text (2004) -
The pseudoscalar interaction couples the spin to f; and thus creates in the spin precession a Lorentz-violating signature that is identical to the interaction parameterized by b.
Academic text (2004) -
Consider an intensely chiral Big Bang with a pseudoscalar false vacuum that decayed to power inflation.
Blog text (21) -
A key example of a pseudoscalar quantity is the axial vector potential, which behaves differently under parity transformations.
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The behavior of a pseudoscalar differs significantly from a scalar because it is sensitive to spatial reflection.
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Pseudoscalar mixes pseudo- meaning 'false', as in pseudonym ('false name'), and scalar, a word for a single number or quantity. So a pseudoscalar is like a scalar but with a 'twist': under a mirror reflection it becomes the opposite and therefore 'changes sign'.