EXCITATION FUNCTION Meaning and
Definition
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The excitation function is a term used in physics and chemistry to refer to the relationship between the energy of a reactant or an incident particle and the rate of reaction or the excitation level of the system. It quantifies the efficiency with which a specific reactant is transformed into a product as a function of the energy input.
In nuclear physics, the excitation function represents the cross-section of a nuclear reaction as a function of the bombarding particle's energy. It describes the probability of a nuclear reaction occurring as the energy of the incident particle varies. This function is utilized to determine the conditions required to generate specific nuclear reactions and study reaction mechanisms.
In the field of chemical kinetics, the excitation function characterizes the rate of reaction by analyzing the energy of the reactants. It provides crucial insights into reaction pathways and helps understand how the energy of collisions influences reaction rates.
The excitation function is particularly significant in the study of energetic particles, such as ions or electrons, interacting with matter. By analyzing the excitation function, scientists can gain insights into the energy transfer processes and the resulting electronic or atomic excitation of the target material.
Overall, the excitation function is a fundamental concept in various scientific disciplines, offering a quantitative understanding of the relationship between energy and reaction rates or excitation levels in nuclear and chemical systems.
Etymology of EXCITATION FUNCTION
The etymology of the word "excitation function" can be understood by breaking it down into its constituent parts.
1. Excitation: The word "excitation" derived from the Latin word "excitare", which means "to excite" or "to stir up". In physics and chemistry, it refers to the process of raising the energy level of an atom, molecule, or particle to an excited state.
2. Function: The word "function" comes from the Latin word "functio", meaning "performance" or "execution". In mathematics and science, it typically indicates the relationship between two or more variables, describing how one variable is dependent on another.
Combining these two terms, the phrase "excitation function" refers to a mathematical or empirical function that describes the relationship between the energy of the incident particles or radiation and the rate or probability of excitation or reaction occurring in a physical system.
