spallation

[ spaw-ley-shuh n ]
/ spɔˈleɪ ʃən /

noun Physics.

a nuclear reaction in which several nucleons are released from the nucleus of an atom.

Origin of spallation

First recorded in 1945–50; spall + -ation

Words nearby spallation

Example sentences from the Web for spallation

  • Two general types of reactions, known as spallation and fragmentation, are distinguished.

    LRL Accelerators |Lawrence Radiation Laboratory

British Dictionary definitions for spallation

spallation
/ (spəˈleɪʃən) /

noun

physics a type of nuclear reaction in which a photon or particle hits a nucleus and causes it to emit many other particles or photons

Word Origin for spallation

C20: from spall + -ation

Medical definitions for spallation

spallation
[ spô-lāshən ]

n.

A nuclear reaction in which nuclei are bombarded by high-energy particles, causing the liberation of protons and alpha particles.
Fragmentation.