ALPHA PARTICLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does alpha particle mean? 

• ALPHA PARTICLE (noun)
  The noun ALPHA PARTICLE has 1 sense:

1. a positively charged particle that is the nucleus of the helium atom; emitted from natural or radioactive isotopes

  Familiarity information: ALPHA PARTICLE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ALPHA PARTICLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A positively charged particle that is the nucleus of the helium atom; emitted from natural or radioactive isotopes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Hypernyms ("alpha particle" is a kind of...):

particle; subatomic particle (a body having finite mass and internal structure but negligible dimensions)

 Context examples 

Initial measurements at this site with the element-identifying alpha particle X-ray spectrometer at the end of Opportunity's arm indicate that bright-toned veins in the rock contain calcium sulfate.

(Aluminum-Bearing Site on Mars Draws NASA Visitor, NASA)

Bismuth 213 is an isotope that emits short-ranged high-energy alpha particles.

(Bismuth Bi213 Monoclonal Antibody M195, NCI Thesaurus)

An emission of positively charged particles composed of two protons and two neutrons, i.e., helium nuclei, emitted during disintegration of very heavy isotopes; a beam of alpha particles or an alpha ray has very strong ionizing power, but weak penetrability.

(Alpha Radiation, NCI Thesaurus)