- The process by which a system reaches → thermal equilibrium.
Thermalization results from energy exchange between the
components constituting the system and their exchange with the outside medium.
In a gas at a given temperature, molecules move with different velocities.
The gas temperature corresponds to the mean velocity of the molecules, but individual
molecules may deviate largely from the mean velocity. Some move very fast others
slowly and change velocity upon collisions. Collisions reduce the energy of
fast moving molecules and increase that of slow ones.
In the process of thermalization
→ matter and → radiation
are in constant interaction such that their → temperatures
become identical.
The process goes on until energy distribution reaches
→ equilibrium.
The system is said to be → thermalized.
- The condition where in an → atomic or
→ molecular → transition
the → Boltzmann factor for the two
→ levels of transition takes on the value it would have in
→ thermodynamic equilibrium.
See also: Verbal noun of → thermalize.
