collimated

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "collimated" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts related to optics, physics, or any field discussing parallel rays of light or particles. An example: "The laser beam was collimated to ensure precision in the experiment." Alternative expressions include "parallelized" and "aligned."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Some quasars are also observed to have radio jets, which are highly collimated beams of plasma propelled out along the rotation axis of the accretion disk at speeds often approaching that of light.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Laser light is brilliant, monochromatic, collimated (the rays are parallel), and coherent (the waves are all in step with each other), any or all of these properties being of value in particular cases.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Because the initial quarks get kicked so hard, this spray is collimated into a jet, and despite all the splitting and production of new quarks, the direction of the jet reflects pretty well the initial direction of the quark.

The Guardian

A collimated beam of coherent light is used to transilluminate the object.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If collimated light falls upon a transmission grating, the wavefronts successively pass through and spread out as secondary waves from the transparent parts of the grating.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If a collimated beam of light is used to illuminate a zone lens, then two beams are produced; the first comes to a real focus, and the other is a divergent beam that appears to have come from a virtual focus.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They eventually decay to neutrinos, which remain in a collimated beam and, mostly, just carry on without interacting with anything.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Asked about the case, Dr. David Keys, a board member of the American College of Medical Physics, said, "It takes less than 15 seconds to collimate a baby," adding: "It could be that the techs at Downstate were too busy.

The New York Times - Health

"We used a magnetic field from a permanent magnet to collimate the electron beams," he said -- in other words, to have the electrons follow parallel paths instead of fanning out in a spray.

The New York Times - Tech

"Then we thought of collimating beams, and we were off".

The New York Times - Tech

He was busy at work — in 1993, the year of the Menacing Mantis, for instance, he patented a self-collimated resonator laser and worked on fibre-optic networks for space satellites — so he usually wasn't able to travel to Japan to hand-deliver his bug of the month.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing light sources, specify the degree of collimation. Instead of simply saying "collimated light", quantify it with terms like "highly collimated" or "partially collimated" to provide more precise information.

Common error

Do not confuse "collimated" with "coherent". While laser light is often both, collimation refers to the parallelism of rays, while coherence refers to the consistent phase relationship of the light waves. A light source can be collimated without being coherent, and vice versa.

Linguistic Context

The word "collimated" primarily functions as an adjective. It describes something that has been made parallel, particularly beams of light or particles. Ludwig AI supports this, showing examples where "collimated" modifies nouns like 'beams' and 'light'.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

30%

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "collimated" is an adjective used to describe something whose rays are parallel, especially beams of light or particles. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and suitable for technical and scientific contexts. Its usage is most common in encyclopedias, news, and scientific publications, signifying a formal register. It's important to remember that "collimated" refers to parallelism, not necessarily coherence. While less common than other descriptive terms, understanding "collimated" enhances precision in technical communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Parallelized light

Uses a verb form to describe the process of making light parallel.

Parallel beams

Emphasizes the parallel nature of the beams, a key characteristic of collimation.

Beam with minimal divergence

Describes collimation in terms of its effect: reducing divergence.

Aligned rays

Highlights the alignment aspect, focusing on individual rays rather than a collective beam.

Well-defined beam

Highlights the clarity and precision of the beam's direction.

Directional beam

Focuses on the directionality and controlled path of the beam.

Directed energy

Highlights the controlled direction of energy, often achieved through collimation.

Focused stream

Suggests a concentration or focusing of the stream, implying a degree of collimation.

Confined radiation

Emphasizes the containment and direction of radiation, similar to collimation.

Rays in phase

Focuses on the coherence and synchronization of rays, often a result of collimation.

FAQs

How is "collimated" used in a sentence?

The adjective "collimated" describes something made parallel, usually light or particles. For example, "The "collimated beam" of the laser allowed for precise measurements."

What is the difference between "collimated" and "focused"?

"Collimated" refers to rays or beams that are parallel and do not converge or diverge. "Focused", on the other hand, refers to rays or beams that converge at a single point. Therefore, a "focused beam" is the opposite of a collimated beam.

What are synonyms for "collimated"?

While there aren't perfect synonyms, phrases like "parallel beams", "aligned rays", or "directional beam" can be used to convey a similar meaning depending on the context.

In what fields is the term "collimated" commonly used?

The term "collimated" is frequently used in fields such as optics, physics, astronomy, and medical physics to describe beams of light, particles, or radiation that are parallel or nearly parallel. This is essential for precise applications such as laser cutting, radiation therapy, and astronomical observations.