Terms starting with L
40 terms · page 1 of 2
La Niña
The cool climate phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) characterized by abnormally cold sea surface temperatures in the central…
Mathematical & Computational PhysicsLagrangian Formalism
A formulation of classical mechanics where system dynamics are derived from a single scalar function, the Lagrangian L(q, q̇, t).
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsLamb Shift
A small energy difference between the 2s1/2 and 2p1/2 states of hydrogen caused by quantum vacuum fluctuations.
Plasma PhysicsLandau Damping
The collisionless damping of electrostatic plasma waves caused by energy exchange between wave electric fields and particles moving near…
Plasma PhysicsLangmuir Probe
A diagnostic electrode inserted directly into a plasma to measure local electron temperature, plasma density, and floating potential from…
Mathematical & Computational PhysicsLaplace Transform
An integral transform that maps a real-valued time-domain function f(t) into a complex frequency-domain function F(s).
Nuclear & Particle PhysicsLarge Hadron Collider (LHC)
The world's largest and highest-energy particle accelerator, located in a 27-kilometer underground circular tunnel at CERN near Geneva.
OpticsLaser
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation—a device producing coherent, monochromatic, highly directional, high-intensity…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsLaser Cooling
A technique using photon momentum from red-detuned laser beams to slow down moving gas atoms, cooling them to microkelvin temperatures.
Plasma PhysicsLaser Wakefield Acceleration
An advanced particle acceleration technique where ultra-intense laser pulses launched through plasma create giant relativistic plasma wave…
Thermodynamics & Statistical PhysicsLatent Heat of Fusion
The amount of thermal energy required to change a unit mass of a substance from solid to liquid at constant melting temperature.
Thermodynamics & Statistical PhysicsLatent Heat of Vaporization
The thermal energy required to convert a unit mass of liquid into gas at constant boiling temperature.
Plasma PhysicsLawson Criterion
A fundamental condition for net thermonuclear fusion power gain, specifying minimum values for plasma density n, energy confinement time…
Electromagnetism & ElectronicsLC Circuit & Oscillations
An electrical circuit containing an inductor and capacitor that exchanges energy periodically between the electric field of the capacitor…
Foundations of PhysicsLeast Count
The smallest scale division or magnitude that can be measured directly using a given instrument.
Mathematical & Computational PhysicsLeast Squares Data Fitting
A standard mathematical regression technique for determining the best-fitting curve or line to a set of data points by minimizing the sum…
Foundations of PhysicsLeast Squares Method
A statistical technique used to determine the line or curve of best fit through experimental data points by minimizing the sum of squared…
Mathematical & Computational PhysicsLegendre Polynomials
A sequence of orthogonal polynomials satisfying Legendre's differential equation (1-x²) y'' - 2x y' + n(n+1) y = 0.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsLehmann Discontinuity
The seismic boundary at a depth of ~5,150 km marking the transition between Earth's liquid outer core and solid inner core.
Foundations of PhysicsLength
The spatial extent or distance between two points measured along a specified path.
Astrophysics, Cosmology & RelativityLength Contraction
The relativistic effect where an object's length in the direction of motion is measured shorter by a stationary observer than its proper…
OpticsLens Maker's Formula
An equation relating a thin lens's focal length to its material refractive index and the radii of curvature of its two spherical surfaces.
Electromagnetism & ElectronicsLenz's Law
A physical law asserting that the direction of an induced current always produces a magnetic field that opposes the change in magnetic flux…
Nuclear & Particle PhysicsLeptons
A family of elementary spin-1/2 fermions that do not experience the strong nuclear interaction.