Scintillation: meaning, definitions and examples
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scintillation
[ ˌsɪn.tɪˈleɪ.ʃən ]
physical phenomenon
Scintillation refers to the process of emission of light from a material after it has absorbed ionizing radiation. This phenomenon can occur in various materials, including gases, liquids, and solids. It is commonly observed in the fields of physics and astronomy, where scintillation is used to detect and measure radiation.
Synonyms
flicker, glimmer, sparkle, twinkling.
Examples of usage
- The scintillation of stars was observed through the telescope.
- Scientists measure the scintillation of particles in experiments.
- Scintillation counters are essential in radiation detection.
Translations
Translations of the word "scintillation" in other languages:
🇵🇹 cintilação
🇮🇳 चमक
🇩🇪 Funken
🇮🇩 berkilau
🇺🇦 світіння
🇵🇱 scyntylacja
🇯🇵 閃光
🇫🇷 scintillation
🇪🇸 centelleo
🇹🇷 parıldama
🇰🇷 불꽃
🇸🇦 تألق
🇨🇿 scintilace
🇸🇰 scintilácia
🇨🇳 闪烁
🇸🇮 scintilacija
🇮🇸 glitring
🇰🇿 жарқырату
🇬🇪 ბრწყინვა
🇦🇿 parıldama
🇲🇽 destello
Etymology
The word 'scintillation' is derived from the Latin word 'scintillatio', which means 'a sparkling or a twinkling', originating from 'scintillare', meaning 'to glitter or to sparkle'. Its usage in English dates back to the early 19th century when it began to be used in scientific contexts to describe light phenomena associated with radiation. The concept of scintillation became particularly important in the fields of physics and astronomy as researchers sought to understand and measure the behaviors of light and radiation. Over the years, the term has remained relevant in discussions of optics, particle physics, and astrophysics, highlighting its critical role in technical and scientific language.