Category: Index
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Landé g-Factor
Introduction The Landé g-factor, named after Alfred Landé, is a dimensionless quantity that characterizes the magnetic moment and angular momentum of atomic and subatomic particles in quantum physics. This value is a critical part of the Zeeman Effect, where spectral lines split due to an external magnetic field. The g-Factor in Quantum Mechanics In quantum…
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Mesons
Introduction Mesons are a category of subatomic particles composed of a quark and an antiquark pair, bound together by the strong nuclear force. They are classified as bosons due to their integral spin. Basic Properties of Mesons Mesons are defined by the composition of a quark-antiquark pair. The quark content determines the properties of the…
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Magnetoresistance
Introduction Magnetoresistance is the property of a material to change its electrical resistance in response to an applied magnetic field. This quantum mechanical phenomenon has profound applications in modern electronics and computing. Basic Explanation When a magnetic field is applied to a conductive material, the trajectories of the charge carriers (electrons or holes) can be…
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Quantum Tunneling
Introduction Quantum tunneling is a quantum mechanical phenomenon where particles can penetrate through a potential energy barrier that they could not surmount according to classical physics. It arises from the wave-like nature of particles described by the principles of quantum mechanics. Basic Explanation of Quantum Tunneling In classical physics, a particle would need to have…
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Mach’s Principle
Introduction Mach’s Principle, named after the physicist Ernst Mach, is a postulate that discusses the relationship between the distribution of matter in the universe and the local behavior of an inertial frame. Mach’s Principle has had a significant influence on the development of general relativity and cosmology, even though it is not precisely defined. Basic…
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Van Allen Radiation Belt
Introduction The Van Allen Radiation Belts are zones of energetic charged particles, most of which originate from the solar wind and become trapped by the Earth’s magnetic field. Named after the discoverer, James Van Allen, these belts pose potential risks to satellites and astronauts, while also serving as a natural laboratory for the study of…
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Stark Effect
Overview The Stark Effect, named after German physicist Johannes Stark, is the shifting and splitting of spectral lines of atoms and molecules due to the presence of an external electric field. The amount of shifting or splitting is proportional to the strength of the electric field. This is an important phenomenon in both atomic physics…
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Parsec
Introduction The parsec is a unit of length used in astronomy and astrophysics to measure astronomical distances. Due to the vast scale of the universe, conventional units like meters or kilometers are inconvenient for astronomical distances, so larger units like the parsec are used instead. Definition The parsec (pc) is defined as the distance at…
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Unruh Effect
Introduction The Unruh effect is a theoretical prediction in quantum field theory and is one of the results showing the deep connections between quantum physics, thermodynamics, and relativity. Proposed by William G. Unruh in 1976, it suggests that an accelerating observer will be in a thermal state – in other words, they will observe a…
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Neutrons
Introduction Neutrons are subatomic particles that, along with protons, make up atomic nuclei. Neutrons are neutral, carrying no net electric charge. Basic Properties Neutrons are slightly more massive than protons. The mass of a neutron is approximately: Since neutrons carry no net electric charge, their electric charge is 0. Structure and Composition Neutrons are also…