atom smasher
[/ˈætəm ˈsmæʃər/]
nounpl: atom smashers
acelerador de partículas
1. A machine or device that accelerates subatomic particles to extremely high speeds and collides them together to study the resulting fragments and energy; a particle accelerator
Scientists used the atom smasher to discover new subatomic particles.
Os cientistas usaram o acelerador de partículas para descobrir novas partículas subatômicas.
2. Colloquial term for a large particle accelerator facility used in nuclear physics research
The new atom smasher at CERN is the most powerful in the world.
O novo acelerador de partículas do CERN é o mais potente do mundo.
The term 'atom smasher' is primarily used in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States, as a colloquial and somewhat outdated term for particle accelerators. It gained popularity in mid-20th century scientific journalism. In Brazil and Portugal, the technical term 'acelerador de partículas' is preferred in scientific and academic contexts. The phrase reflects the historical practice of describing particle acceleration technology in more accessible, metaphorical language for general audiences.
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