spallation
noun
spall·ation
spȯ-ˈlā-shən 
1
: a nuclear reaction in which light particles are ejected as the result of bombardment (as by high-energy protons)
2
: the process of spalling
Examples of spallation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Those protons smashing and staying put creates the right kind of actinium through a process called spallation.
—
Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2024
In a process called spallation, high-energy cosmic rays from exploding stars can ram into interstellar gas particles, says Pierre Salati, a particle astrophysicist at the Annecy-le-Vieux Particle Physics Laboratory, who worked on Poulin’s 2019 study.
—Leto Sapunar, Scientific American, 7 June 2021
Are there a sufficient number of meteorites slamming into planets to launch life-seeding rocks through space (a.k.a. cause spallation)?
—Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2017
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Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2024
In a process called spallation, high-energy cosmic rays from exploding stars can ram into interstellar gas particles, says Pierre Salati, a particle astrophysicist at the Annecy-le-Vieux Particle Physics Laboratory, who worked on Poulin’s 2019 study.
—Leto Sapunar, Scientific American, 7 June 2021
Are there a sufficient number of meteorites slamming into planets to launch life-seeding rocks through space (a.k.a. cause spallation)?
—Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2017
Cite this Entry
“Spallation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spallation. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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