An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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A space observatory, formerly named GLAST, devoted to the study of → gamma rays emitted from astrophysical objects. Developed by NASA in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, along with important contributions from academic institutions and partners in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, and the United States, Fermi was launched on June 11, 2008. The main instrument, the Large Area Telescope (LAT), is an imaging → camera covering the energy range from about 20 → MeV to more than 300 → GeV. Such gamma rays are emitted only in the most extreme conditions, by particles moving very nearly at the → speed of light. The LAT's → field of view covers about 20% of the sky at any time, and it scans continuously, covering the whole sky every three hours. Another instrument, the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) has a field of view several times larger than the LAT and provides → spectral coverage of → gamma-ray burst that extends from the lower limit of the LAT down to 10 → keV.

→ Fermi; → gamma ray; → space; → telescope.

An old explanation, proposed by Enrico Fermi, of the → weak interaction.

→ fermi; → interaction.

A measure of the → energy of the least tightly held → electrons within a → solid at a → non-zero → temperature. The value of the Fermi level at → absolute zero (-273.15 °C) is called the → Fermi energy and is a constant for each solid. In other words, the Fermi level is any → energy level having the probability that it is exactly half filled with electrons in the → Fermi-Dirac statistics. Levels of lower energy than the Fermi level tend to be entirely filled with electrons, whereas energy levels higher than the Fermi tend to be empty.

→ Fermi; → level.

The apparent contradiction between the high probability of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations and the lack of evidence of contact with such civilizations.

→ fermi; → paradox.

Same as → degeneracy pressure.

→ fermi; → pressure.

A large aggregate of single-state → fermions of lowest energy. When the temperature is lowered to absolute zero, all electrons in solids attempt to get into the lowest available energy level. However, electrons cannot all occupy the lowest energy, or ground state, in virtue of the → Pauli exclusion principle. They stack up in the lowest energy states, with two fermions in each state, one spin up and one spin down. Such assemblage of filled states is called the Fermi "sea," and this state of matter is called → degenerate. All states with energy less than the Fermi energy are filled, and all states above the Fermi energy are empty.

→ fermi; → sea.

The statistical distribution of → fermions over the energy states for a system in → thermodynamic equilibrium. In other words, the probability that a given energy level be occupied by a fermion.

→ fermi, → Dirac function; → statistics.

A computer experiment that was aimed to study the → thermalization process of a → solid. In other words, the goal was to see whether there is an approximate → equipartition of energy in the system, which would mean that the motion is → chaotic. Using computer simulation, Fermi-Pasta-Ulam studied the behavior of a chain of 64 mass particles connected by → nonlinear springs. In fact, they were looking for a theoretical physics problem suitable for an investigation with one of the very first computers, the he MANIAC (Mathematical Analyzer, Numerical Integrator and Computer). They decided to study how a → crystal evolves toward → thermal equilibrium by simulating a chain of particles, linked by a quadratic interaction potential, but also by a weak nonlinear interaction. Fermi-Pasta-Ulam assumed that if the interaction in the chain were nonlinear, then an exchange of energy among the normal modes would occur, and this would bring forth the equipartition of energy, i.e. the thermalization. Contrary to expectations, the energy revealed no tendency toward equipartition. The system had a simple quasi-periodic behavior, and no → chaoticity was observed. This result, known as the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam paradox, shows that → nonlinearity is not enough to guarantee the equipartition of energy (see, e.g., Dauxois et al., 2005, Eur. J. Phys., 26, S3).

E. Fermi, J. Pasta, S. Ulam, 1955, Los Alamos report LA-1940; → problem.

An elementary particle, such as → electron, → proton, or → neutron, having a half integral value of → spin. Fermions obey the → Pauli exclusion principle.

From Fermi → fermi + → -on.

Of or containing → iron, especially in the trivalent state. More specifically, iron with an → oxidation number of +3; also denoted iron(III) or Fe³⁺.

Ferric, from L. ferrum "iron," + → -ic.

Iron in a plus-3 → oxidation state. Ferric iron needs to share three electrons with an oxygen molecule to make the ion neutral.

→ ferric; → iron.

Indicating a property of → iron or the presence of iron.

Ferro-, variant ferri-, combining form of L. ferrum "iron."

Âhan-, → iron.

Characterized by the presence of a spontaneous → electric dipole while not exposed to an external electric field. → ferroelectricity.

→ ferro-; → electric.

A property observed in certain materials characterized by the presence of a spontaneous electric polarization even in the absence of an external electric field. In the ferroelectric state the center of positive charge of the material does not coincide with the center of negative charge. This phenomenon is explained by spontaneous alignment of these permanent moments along the same direction. The term comes from the similarity with → ferromagnetism, but iron is not a ferroelectric. Ferroelectricity disappears above a critical temperature. Ferroelectric materials have been a fertile field for the study of → phase transitions.

→ ferro-; → electricity.

A ferroamagnetic substance, which possesses → ferromagnetism.

→ ferro-; → magnet.

Relative to or characterized by → ferromagnetism.

→ ferro-; → magnetic.

A property of certain substances which are enormously more magnetic than any other known substance. Ferromagnetic substances, such as the chemical elements iron, nickel, cobalt, some of the rare earths, and ceratin alloys, achieve maximum → magnetization at relatively low magnetic field strengths. Their large → magnetic permeabilityies (greater than unity) vary with the strength of the applied field. When the temperature of a ferromagnet is increased the property vanishes gradually due to randomizing effects of thermal agitation. Beyond a definite temperature for each substance ( → Curie temperature) it ceases to behave as a ferromagnet and becomes a → paramagnet. Ferromagnetism is due to the alignment of the → magnetic moments of uncompensated electrons in the crystal lattice. Under the influence of an external magnetizing field, all of the uncompensated electrons line up with their → spins in the direction of the field. In contrast with paramagnetic substances, in which spins interact only with an external magnetic field, in ferromagnets the spins interact with each others, each of them trying to align the others in its own direction. This coupling gives rise to a spontaneous alignment of the moments over macroscopic regions called domains. The domains undergo further alignment when the substance is subjected to an applied field. Ferromagnets retain their magnetisation even when the external magnetic field has been removed. See also → antiferromagnetism ; → diamagnetism; → magnetism.

→ ferro-; → magnetism.

Of or containing → iron, especially in the bivalent state. More specifically, iron with → oxidation number of +2, denoted iron(II) or Fe2+.

From L. ferrum "iron," + -ous a suffix forming adjectives that have the general sense "possessing, full of" a given quality.

Fervar, from fer, loan from Fr., + -var adj. suffix.

Iron in a plus-2 → oxidation state.

→ ferrous; → iron.

Physics: (of nuclear material) Able to become → fissile by → neutron capture.

M.E., from M.Fr. fertil, from L. fertilis "bearing in abundance, fruitful, productive," from ferre "to bear," from PIE root *bher- "to carry," also "to bear children," cognate with Pers. bordan "to carry, bear," → refer.

Bârvar, literally "fruitful," from bâr "fruit; flower; load; charge" + possession suffix -var, related to bordan "to bear, carry," as above.