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Glite Dictionary
psi particle

psi particle

9.9
A heavy neutral meson made of a quark and an antiquark seen in physics experiments
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : partícula psi
  • The discovery of the psi particle was a major breakthrough in particle physics.

Examples

  • The mass of the psi particle distinguishes it from many other mesons.

  • Researchers used special detectors to identify the psi particle in high-energy collisions.

  • The psi particle was discovered in the 1970s.

  • Researchers have studied psi particles extensively.

  • The discovery of the psi particle was a major breakthrough in particle physics.

  • Researchers used special detectors to identify the psi particle in high-energy collisions.

  • The mass of the psi particle distinguishes it from many other mesons.

Synonyms

J particle
vspsi particle
  • Specialized
9.9

A heavy neutral particle made of a charm quark and its antiparticle

is the same meson but described under a different name

Surface Forms

psi particle singular
psi particles plural

Morphology

psi + particle

The compound is a straightforward naming construction: 'psi' (a Greek-letter label) combined with 'particle' yields 'a particle named psi', so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to a kind of particle. Although the full scientific details (that it is a specific meson, J/psi) require domain knowledge, the basic referential meaning is transparently derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Psi particle: The name psi particle comes from the Greek letter psi, because the scientists used that letter as a label when they first saw the new particle. One team called it 'J' and another called it 'psi', so the full name 'J/psi' stuck and now the name simply points to that particular heavy particle.