Definition

A type of quasiparticle formed when an electron or hole interacts with the surrounding lattice in a material, causing a distortion in the lattice structure.

Example

In certain materials, the behavior of a polaron can significantly affect their electrical properties.

Conversation

I was reading about semiconductors and came across the term polaron.

Oh really? What does that mean exactly?

It's basically an electron that interacts with the surrounding lattice, forming a polaron.

That sounds interesting! I love how complex these concepts can be.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Polaron is formed from "polar" (from Latin *polaris*, meaning of the poles) and the suffix "-on" (used in physics to denote a particle). The term refers to a quasiparticle associated with the polarization of a medium, particularly in the context of condensed matter physics.

Memory Tip

Think of 'polar' relating to the poles, and remember that a 'polaron' is a particle that involves the polarization of a medium.

Visually Confused Words