quenching

(atomic physics) Phenomenon in which a very strong electric field, such as a crystal field, causes the orbit of an electron in an atom to precess rapidly so that the average magnetic moment associated with its orbital angular momentum is reduced to zero.
(electronics) The process of terminating a discharge in a gas-filled radiation-counter tube by inhibiting reignition. Reduction of the intensity of resonance radiation resulting from deexcitation of atoms, which would otherwise have emitted this radiation, in collisions with electrons or other atoms in a gas.
(engineering) Shock cooling by immersing liquid or molten material into a cooling medium (liquid or gas); used in metallurgy, plastics forming, and petroleum refining.
(immunology) An adaptation of immunofluorescence that uses two fluorochromes, one of which absorbs light emitted by the other; one fluorochrome labels that antigen, another the antibody, and the antigen-antibody complexes retain both; the initially emitted light is absorbed and so quenched by the second compound.
(mechanical engineering) Rapid removal of excess heat from the combustion chamber of an automotive engine.
(solid-state physics) Reduction in the intensity of sensitized luminescence radiation when energy migrating through a crystal by resonant transfer is dissipated in crystal defects or impurities rather than being reemitted as radiation.

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1. The process of extinguishing, removing, or diminishing a physical property such as heat or light.
2. The shifting of the energy spectrum from a true to a lower energy that occurs in liquid scintillation counting of beta emissions; caused by interfering materials in the counting solution, including foreign chemicals.