An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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A process whereby an → unstable atom becomes stable. In this process, an → electron in an atom's inner shell is drawn into the → nucleus where it combines with a → proton, forming a → neutron and a → neutrino. The neutrino escapes from the atom's nucleus. The result is an element change, because the atom loses a proton. For example, an atom of → carbon (with 6 protons) becomes an atom of → boron (with 5 protons). Electron capture is also called K-capture since the captured electron usually comes from the atom's K-shell. See also → neutronization.

→ electron; → capture.

The charge of one electron, e = -1.602 176 × 10^-19→ coulombs or -4.803 204 51 × 10^-10→ statcoulombs.

→ electron; → charge.

Of an atom, a form of notation which shows how the electrons are distributed among the various atomic orbital and energy levels. The format consists of a series of numbers, letters and superscripts. For example, 1s² 2s² 2p³ means: 2 electrons in the 1s subshell, 2 electrons in the 2s subshell, and 3 electrons in the 2p subshell.

→ electron; → configuration.

A → degenerate matter in which electrons are very tightly packed together, as in a white dwarf, but cannot get closer than a certain limit to each other, because according to quantum mechanics laws (→ Pauli exclusion principle) the lowest energy levels can be occupied by only one electron. Therefore, electrons are forced into high energy states. And the significant pressure created by these high energy electrons supports white dwarf stars against their own gravity.

→ electron; → degeneracy.

The number of electrons per unit volume in an ionized medium, like an → H II region, as determined from → emission lines.

→ electron; → density.

A diffraction phenomenon resulting from the passage of electrons through matter, analogous to the diffraction of visible light. This phenomenon is the main evidence for the existence of waves associated with elementary particles; → de Broglie wavelength.

→ electron; → diffraction.

The mass of an electron, which is 9.109 382 91 × 10^-28 g.

→ electron; → mass.

The classical size of the electron given by r_e = e²/m_ec² = 2.81794 × 10^-13 cm, where e and m_e are the → electron charge and → electron mass, respectively, and c is the → speed of light.

→ electron; → radius.

Any of up to seven energy levels on which an electron may exist within an atom, the energies of the electrons on the same level being equal and on different levels being unequal. The number of electrons permitted in a shell is equal to 2n². A shell contains n² orbitals, and n subshells.

→ electron; → shell.

1) The temperature of electrons in an interstellar ionized nebula (e.g. in → H II regions and → planetary nebulae) as determined by characteristic → emission lines (optical → forbidden lines or → radio recombination lines).
2) In the → solar wind, the temperature derived from the mean → thermal agitation of the electrons. More specifically, electric field receivers on board space probes carry out the spectroscopy of the → thermal noise due to the potential fluctuations produced by the thermal agitation of the electrons, yielding the electron temperature in certain conditions (N. Meyer-Vernet, 2007, Basics of the Solar Wind, Cambridge Univ. Press). See also → proton temperature.

→ electron; → temperature.

→ electron-volt.

→ electron; → volt.

The simultaneous formation of an → electron and a → positron in the → pair production process.

→ electron; → positron; → pair.

A → line broadening phenomenon involving the scattering effect of → free electrons on the → radiation transfer in → stellar atmospheres. The scattering of radiation by free electrons plays an important role in the atmospheres of → hot stars, such as → O-types, early → B-types, and → Wolf-Rayet stars. The first detailed study of electron scattering in Wolf-Rayet stars was by Castor et al. (1970), who used electron scattering to explain the broad emission wings of N IV λ3483 in HD 192163. In → P Cygni stars the explanation of the very extended (almost symmetric) wings on the → Balmer lines as caused by electron scattering was first made by Bernat & Lambert (1978). Hillier (1991) showed that significant reduction in the strength of an electron-scattering wing can be achieved in a model of → clumped wind for a lower mean → mass loss rate. This resulted in a better agreement between observations and theoretical predictions. Electron-scattering wings provide diagnostics regarding the presence of density inhomogeneities in → stellar winds (Münch, 1948, ApJ 108, 116; Hillier, 1991, A&A 247, 455).

→ electron; → scattering; → wing.

The energy acquired by an electron when accelerated through a → potential difference of 1 volt (1 eV = 1.602 × 10^-12 → ergs = 11605 → kelvins).

→ electron; → volt.

In molecular quantum mechanics, any of → quantum states corresponding to a particular → electron configuration (i.e. an arrangement of the electron(s) in certain → orbitals). The electron configuration with the lowest energy is called the → ground state. All higher energy states are called → excited states.

→ electronic; → state.

The → transfer of an → electron from one → energy level to another.

→ electronic; → transition.

An instrument for detecting electric charges or → potential differences.

→ electro-; → -scope.

Referring to electric charges at rest.

→ electro-; → static.

A quantity of electricity at rest on the surface of an insulator or an insulated conductor.

→ electrostatic; → charge.

A region of space in which a non-moving → electric charge would be subjected to a force of attraction or repulsion as a result of the presence of another stationary electric charge. The electrostatic field is a special case of the → electromagnetic field.

→ electrostatic; → field.