nonthermal radiation
McGraw-Hill Science & Technology Dictionary:
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nonthermal radiation
(′nän′thər·məl ′rād·ē′ā·shən)
(physics) Electromagnetic radiation emitted by accelerated charged particles that are not in thermal equilibrium; aurora light and fluorescent-lamp light are examples.
Wiley Book of Astronomy:
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nonthermal radiation
Electromagnetic radiation given off by particles for reasons other than their thermal energy. The commonest example in astrophysics is synchrotron radiation, produced by the acceleration of electrons or other charged particles by a magnetic field. Compare with thermal radiation.
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McGraw-Hill Science & Technology Dictionary
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. Copyright © 2003, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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