quadrupole
nounEtymology From quadru- + pole.
1
Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics A distribution of either electric charge or magnetization equivalent to two dipoles that point in opposite directions.
- Consider a linear quadrupole consisting of a point charge of strength 2q at the origin and point charges of strength —q at (0, 0, a) and (0, 0, —a).1975, David M. Cook, The Theory of the Electromagnetic Field, page 123:
2
Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics A magnet with two north poles and two south poles, used to focus a beam of particles.
- Derived terms
- antiferroquadrupole, nuclear quadrupole resonance, pentaquadrupole
- Related terms
- quadrupolar, octupole, quadripole