polaronn.
/ˈpəʊlərɒn/, U.S. /ˈpoʊləˌrɑn/ Physics.
A quasiparticle in a crystal consisting of a free electron together with an associated distortion of the crystal lattice, the distortion resulting from the interaction of the electron with the constituent ions or atoms of the lattice.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > quantum theory > [noun] > quasiparticle > types of
exciton1936
roton1941
polaron1946
plasmon1956
polariton1958
soliton1965
1946 S. Pekar in Jrnl. Physics (Moscow) 10 343/2 Such local self-consistent quantum states of the electron in a crystal we shall briefly call polarons.
1969 Nature 15 Nov. 641/2 The interaction between an electron and its strain field in a polar solid gives rise to the excitation known as a polaron, the presence of which can be detected by irregularities in the shape of the conduction band.
1971 N. F. Mott & E. A. Davis Electronic Processes in Non-Crystalline Materials iv. 115 At low temperatures a polaron, whether large or small,..will behave exactly like a heavy particle, being scattered by impurities or lattice vibrations.
2004 Jrnl. Solid State Chem. 177 4104 As a consequence, some Ce3+ ions would form providing it with conduction electrons propagating as small polarons.
Derivatives
polaˈronic adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > quantum theory > [adjective] > relating to polaron
polaronic1970
1970 Jrnl. Non-crystalline Solids 2 292 (title) Polaronic effects in potassium vanadium phosphate glasses.
1978 Nature 16 Feb. 647/1 There will..be some stored energy involved in the system due to the polaronic nature of the moving charge carrier.
2002 R. Carter Consciousness ix. 301 I spent about 10 years studying quantum theories of polaronic effects in protein.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1946