thermionic
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Relating to thermions: Pertaining to or involving thermions, which are electrically charged particles (ions or electrons) emitted by a heated substance.
- Characterized by thermionic emission: Describing a process, device, or phenomenon where charged particles are released from a heated surface.
Usage
The adjective "thermionic" is used primarily in physics and engineering to describe phenomena, currents, or devices that operate based on the principle of thermionic emission. It is a technical term.
Examples
- Adjective:
- The old radio used a thermionic valve to amplify the signal.
- The efficiency of the device depends on the thermionic properties of the cathode material.
- Scientists studied the thermionic current flowing from the hot filament.
Advanced Usage
- "Thermionic emission": The release of electrons or ions from a heated surface (e.g., a metal filament). This is the core phenomenon the adjective describes.
- The invention of the vacuum tube relied on the principle of thermionic emission.
- "Thermionic converter" or "thermionic generator": A device that converts heat energy directly into electrical energy using thermionic emission.
- A thermionic converter was considered for space power applications.
Variants and Related Words
- Thermion (noun): An electrically charged particle emitted by an incandescent substance.
- Thermionics (noun): The branch of physics that deals with thermions and thermionic emission.
Synonyms
- Thermal emission-related: (Descriptive synonym) Pertaining to emission caused by heat.
- Hot-cathode: (Contextual synonym, often used for devices) Describing a cathode that operates by being heated to emit electrons.
Related Phrases
(Note: "Thermionic" itself is not typically used in phrasal verbs. It forms compound nouns.) - Thermionic valve / tube: Another term for a vacuum tube, an electronic device that controls current using thermionic emission. - Before transistors, thermionic valves were essential in electronics. - Thermionic cathode: A cathode designed to emit electrons when heated. - The thermionic cathode must reach a high temperature to function.
Adjective
- of or relating to or characteristic of thermions
- thermionic cathode