anti-bunching

noun

an·​ti-bunch·​ing ¦an-ˌtī-¦bən-chiŋ How to pronounce anti-bunching (audio)
¦an-tē-
physics
: the nonuniform distribution of elementary particles (such as photons or fermions) in a beam
Researchers term this unusual pattern of photon emission anti-bunching, which means there is a significant time delay between successive photons when they are emitted …United Press International, 13 Apr. 2001
What would happen if the bosons were replaced by fermionic particles such as electrons? Fermions cannot occupy the same energy state, and "antibunching"—an anticorrelation between the particle intensities measured at two detectors—would be expected in equivalent experiments.Markus Büttiker, Science, 9 Apr. 1999
compare bunching

Word History

Etymology

anti- entry 1 + bunching

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anti-bunching was in 1974

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Dictionary Entries Near anti-bunching

Cite this Entry

“Anti-bunching.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-bunching. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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