Thermalisation: Difference between revisions
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) is the process of particles reaching [[thermal equilibrium]] through mutual interaction. |
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When a molecule absorbs energy, as in the technique of molecular fluorescence, the lifetime of the excited state is ~10<sup>−12</sup> sec. Then it rapidly loses energy to the lowest level of the lowest excited state; this is called thermalization. |
When a molecule absorbs energy, as in the technique of molecular fluorescence, the lifetime of the excited state is ~10<sup>−12</sup> sec. Then it rapidly loses energy to the lowest level of the lowest excited state; this is called thermalization. |
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In general the natural |
In general the natural tIn [[physics]], '''thermalisation''' (in American English ''thermalization''endency of a system is towards a state of [[equipartition of energy]] or uniform temperature. |
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This raises the system’s [[entropy]]. |
This raises the system’s [[entropy]]. |
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Revision as of 14:59, 28 July 2010
) is the process of particles reaching thermal equilibrium through mutual interaction.
When a molecule absorbs energy, as in the technique of molecular fluorescence, the lifetime of the excited state is ~10−12 sec. Then it rapidly loses energy to the lowest level of the lowest excited state; this is called thermalization.
In general the natural tIn physics, thermalisation (in American English thermalizationendency of a system is towards a state of equipartition of energy or uniform temperature. This raises the system’s entropy.
Examples of thermalisation include:
- the achievement of equilibrium in a plasma
- the process undergone by high-energy neutrons as they lose energy by collision.
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