exciton

noun

ex·​ci·​ton ˈek-sə-ˌtän How to pronounce exciton (audio)
-ˌsī-
: a mobile combination of an electron and a hole in an excited crystal (as of a semiconductor)
excitonic adjective

Examples of exciton in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Instead of knocking excitons around, phonons in this molecule bind to them to create a new quasiparticle that flow freely through the semiconductor at twice the speed of electrons. IEEE Spectrum, 26 Dec. 2023 However, this means that the excitons can pair up with equally slow-moving phonons. IEEE Spectrum, 6 Nov. 2023 Apart from its use in novelty products, this species, called a triplet exciton, is usually viewed as a nuisance. Tracy H. Schloemer, IEEE Spectrum, 19 Sep. 2023 More From Popular Mechanics Crucially, this van der Waals material has the ability to create quasiparticles known as excitons, which interact with both light and other particles. Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 18 Aug. 2023 People who were making theoretical projections of efficiency limit were not accounting for an important parameter: excitons, which are bound pairs of electrons and holes, which are positively charged spots in an atomic structure where an electron could exist. IEEE Spectrum, 15 June 2023 The researchers blasted the semiconductor layers with laser light to create a particle-like entity called an exciton. Quanta Magazine, 12 Aug. 2021 But this work was only meant as a proof of concept of exciton fission in a solar cell. Daniel Oberhaus, WIRED, 11 July 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exciton.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary excitation + -on entry 2

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exciton was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near exciton

Cite this Entry

“Exciton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exciton. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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