positonn.
/ˈpɒzɪtɒn/, U.S. /ˈpɑzəˌtɑn/ Physics.
1. A proton. rare.
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the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > particle physics > particle participating in strong interaction > baryon > [noun] > proton
proton1920
nucleon1923
positon1928
1928 H. D. Hubbard Explanatory Key to Periodic Chart of Atoms 20 The positive atom of electricity, the ‘proton’ is 1845 times heavier than the negative. (Since ‘electron’ is ambiguous, the term ‘positon’ is suggested as more explicit, and ‘negaton’ would avoid ambiguity as the corresponding name for the negative electron.)
2. = positron n. Now rare.
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the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > particle physics > particle avoiding strong interaction > electron > [noun] > positive electron
E1894
positive electron1899
positron1933
positon1937
1937 Chem. Abstr. 31 2917/1 The following names are proposed for corpuscles of mass approx. 10−27 g. (present names in parentheses): nulliton (neutrino), positon (positron), negaton (electron).
1938 Encycl. Brit. Bk. of Year 404/1 The prediction of the possibility under certain conditions of the materialization of radiation quanta into a positon and a negaton.
1952 B. Rossi High-energy Particles i. 2 Positive electrons (or positons) are identical to negatons, except for their opposite sign of charge.
1956 Nuclear Physics 1 72 The word ‘electron’ applies to particles with an elementary charge of either sign. When it is desirable to emphasize the sign of the charge, the words ‘positon’ and ‘negaton’ are used. Thus the illogical phrase ‘electron-positron pair’ is replaced by ‘electron pair’, or..‘positon-negaton pair’.
1974 Nucl. Physics A. 232 230 (heading) Electron capture to positon decay ratios and second-class currents.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1928