positron

[ poz-i-tron ]

noun

, Physics.

1. an elementary particle having the same mass and spin as an electron but having a positive charge equal in magnitude to that of the electron's negative charge; the antiparticle of the electron.

positron

/ ˈpɒzɪˌtrɒn /

noun

1. physics the antiparticle of the electron, having the same mass but an equal and opposite charge. It is produced in certain decay processes and in pair production, annihilation occurring when it collides with an electron

positron

/ pŏz′ĭ-trŏn′ /

1. The antiparticle that corresponds to an electron.
2. Also called antielectron

positron

1. The antiparticle for an electron ; it has the same mass as an electron, but carries a positive charge .

Notes

Positrons are found in collisions initiated by cosmic rays .

Word History and Origins

Origin of positron¹

First recorded in 1930–35; posi(tive) + (elec)tron

Word History and Origins

Origin of positron¹

C20: from posi ( tive + elec ) tron

Example Sentences

One type fires electrons into their antimatter counterparts, positrons, but these e+e- colliders struggle to reach high energies.

From Science Magazine

Positronium, on the other hand, consists of an electron and its antimatter equivalent, a positron.

From BBC

If the gamma ray energy gets too high, however, the rays can instead transform into pairs of electrons and positrons and stop exerting pressure.

From Science Magazine

According to this model, as positrons are injected into a solid, some of them return to the surface after losing their energy.

From Science Daily

Despite some modest sources of antimatter -- like positrons emitted from the decay of potassium, even within a banana -- scientists do not see much of it in the universe.

From Science Daily