half-integer

noun

plural half-integers

Definition of half-integer

: any number of the form x/2, where x is any odd integer Particles whose spin is a half-integer of h, on the other hand, are fermions satisfying the Pauli exclusion principle; no two particles can have the same state. —Qimiao Si et al., Science, 3 Sept. 2010

Note: A half of an even integer is considered an integer. A half-integer is the result of a half of an odd integer.

Other words from half-integer

half-integral adjective

All the particles that we like to think of as “real” particles, like protons, neutrons and electrons, have spin which is half-integral—1/2, 3/2, 5/2 and so on. —John Gribbin, The Search For Superstrings, 1998

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The first known use of half-integer was in 1897

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