quasiparticle

[ kwey-zahy-pahr-ti-kuhl, kwey-sahy-, kwah-see, -zee- ]

noun

, Physics.

1. an entity, as an exciton or phonon, that interacts with elementary particles, but does not exist as a free particle.

Word History and Origins

Origin of quasiparticle¹

First recorded in 1955–60; quasi- + particle

Example Sentences

Using intuition, educated guesswork and computer simulations, condensed matter physicists have become better at figuring out which quasiparticles are theoretically possible.

From Quanta Magazine

The emerging quasiparticles can be quite stable with well-defined properties like mass and charge.

From Quanta Magazine

The push and pull between each electron and all the particles in its environment “dress” the electron so that it acts like a quasiparticle with a larger mass.

From Quanta Magazine

“Star Trek used to love taking the names of real quasiparticles and ascribing magical properties to them,” said Douglas Natelson, a physicist at Rice University in Texas whose job involves creating actual quasiparticles with near-magical properties.

From Quanta Magazine

A “phonon” is a quasiparticle of sound formed from vibrations moving through a crystal.

From Nautilus