An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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Of or relating to → collision.

→ collision; → -al.

Same as → cross section.

→ collisional; → cross; → section.

The process when the energy difference between the excited and non excited states of an atom is taken away by an electron during a collision.

→ collisional; → decay.

A physical process which is caused by the free electrons that are energized either by → photoionization or → collisional ionization. Collisional excitation puts ions, atoms, and molecules into excited states from which they may decay radiatively. Collisional excitation is important in the → interstellar medium.

→ collisional; → excitation.

A physical process whereby heat is imparted to (e.g. → interstellar dust grains or → molecular hydrogen) through collisions (with hot electrons, ions, etc.).

→ collisional; → heating.

An → ionization resulting from a → collision.

→ collisional; → ionization.

A plasma in which the → mean free path of the → charged particles between two → collisions is much smaller than the size of the system containing the plasma.

→ collisional; → plasma.

A plasma in which the → mean free path of the charged particles between two collisions is much larger than the size of the system containing the plasma.

→ non-; → collisional; → plasma.