Cherenkov

American  

[chuh-reng-kawf, -kof, -ren-, chyi-ryin-kawf] / tʃəˈrɛŋ kɔf, -kɒf, -ˈrɛn-, tʃyɪ ryɪnˈkɔf /

Or Cerenkov

noun

1. Pavel A. 1904–1990, Russian physicist: Nobel Prize 1958.

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Cherenkov British  

/ tʃɪˈrjenkəf, tʃɪˈrɛŋkɒf /

noun

1. Pavel Alekseyevich (ˈpavɪl alɪkˈsjejɪvitʃ). 1904–90, Soviet physicist: noted for work on the effects produced by high-energy particles: shared Nobel prize for physics 1958

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Example Sentences

Next-generation observatories such as the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory are being designed to detect very-high-energy gamma rays with far greater sensitivity.

From Science Daily • Jan. 8, 2026

These faster-than-light events manifest as bright flashes of blue light called Cherenkov radiation.

From Scientific American • Dec. 20, 2022

When the particles hit the water, they will spark faint flashes of blue Cherenkov light spotted by detectors at the bottom of the pools.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 25, 2019

Different types of charged hadrons are distinguished by information from two ring-imaging Cherenkov detectors.

From Nature • May 12, 2015

Cherenkov radiation in the Maria reactor named after Marie Curie, in Poland, June 2010 Photo by A. Rumińska/Wikimedia Commons But here's the really crazy part.

From Slate • Jan. 30, 2013