beamline

noun

beam·​line ˈbēm-ˌlīn How to pronounce beamline (audio)
plural beamlines
physics
: a beam of particles (such as photons or electrons) emitted from a particle accelerator
The synchrotron uses magnets to guide electrons around a ring that's about the size of a basketball court. Every time an electron turns a corner, so to speak, it emits a photon. The photons fly away from the ring in what are called beamlines.National Geographic, October 2001

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beamline was in 1971

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Cite this Entry

“Beamline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beamline. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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