micromotion

[ mahy-kruh-moh-shuhn ]

noun

1. a motion, especially a periodic one, of very short duration or length.
2. (in time and motion study) the analysis of the time of a work performance in its basic subdivisions with the aid of a timing apparatus, motion-picture equipment, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of micromotion¹

First recorded in 1910–15; micro- + motion

Example Sentences

In addition, by varying the shape of, or the number of atomic and molecular ions in, larger Coulomb crystals, or both, we have tuned the effective rotational temperature from about 7kelvin to about 60kelvin by changing the translational micromotion energy of the ions.

From Nature

For this extreme micromotion energy, a strong deviation from a thermal distribution is noticeable.

From Nature

This is because micromotion is induced only along a single spatial direction at any given point in space, whereas the He velocity distribution can be assumed isotropic.

From Nature

In , this population is plotted as a function of the average micromotion energy, Eavg, and is seen to be a monotonically decreasing function of .

From Nature

For the case of single molecular ions, the rotational temperature may be tuned as well, by momentarily moving the ion into regions with large, but controlled, micromotion.

From Nature