| 释义 |
▪ I. psi1|psaɪ, saɪ|
[Gr. ψεῖ.]
1. a. The name of Ψ, ψ, the 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet.
c1400Mandeville Trav. (1725) iii. 25 What Lettres thei ben,..with the Names..α Alpha, β Betha,..χ Chi, ψ Psi, [etc.] 1848[see chi]. 1955W. Pauli Niels Bohr 30 A general agreement was reached following the substitution of abstract mathematical symbols, as for instance psi, for concrete pictures.
b. Nuclear Physics. A neutral, strongly interacting particle that is distinguished by an exceptionally long lifetime in relation to its mass of 3·1 MeV, has a spin of +1, zero hypercharge, zero isospin, and negative parity, and is produced by the collision either of protons or of electrons and positrons at high energies; freq. written ψ. Also (psi prime or ψ′), a similar particle of mass 3·7 MeV that decays into a psi and two pions.
Also designated J.
1974Times 18 Nov. 1/8 American physicists yesterday announced the discovery of a new kind of elementary particle which has been given the name Psi. 1974J.-E. Augustin et al. in Physical Rev. Lett. 2 Dec. 1406/2 We have observed a very sharp peak in the cross section for e+e-→hadrons, e+e-, and possibly µ+µ-... The resonance has the parameters E = 3·105 {pm} 0·003 GeV, Γ ≤ 1·3 MeV... We suggest naming this structure ψ(3105). 1974G. S. Abrams et al. in Ibid. 9 Dec. 1453/2 The recent discovery of a very narrow resonant state coupled to leptons and hadrons has raised the obvious question of the existence of other narrow resonances also coupled to leptons and hadrons. We therefore began a systematic search..and quickly found a second narrow resonance decaying to hadrons. The parameters of this new state (which we suggest calling ψ(3695)) are M = 3·695 {pm} 0·004 GeV, Γ P = I- and IGC = O--. 1978Sci. Amer. Mar. 50/2 The main significance of the discovery of the psi particle was that it provided compelling evidence for the existence of a fourth kind of quark, which had earlier been named the ‘charmed’ quark.
2. Paranormal phenomena or faculties collectively; the psychic force supposed to be manifested by these. Freq. attrib. and Comb.
1942R. H. Thouless in Proc. Soc. Psychical Res. XLVII. 5, I suggest that we should use a term proposed by Dr Wiesner, and call this group of effects [sc. extra-sensory perception] the ‘psi phenomena’, a term which has the important negative merit that it implies no theory as to their nature. Ibid. 8 Accepting the reality of psi, we may seek to fit it into the existing framework of scientific explanation. 1946Jrnl. Parapsychol. X. 146 Psi, a general term to identify personal factors or processes in nature which transcend accepted laws. It approximates the popular use of the word ‘psychic’ and the technical one, ‘parapsychical’. 1948J. B. Rhine Reach of Mind ix. 112 How general psi capacities are we do not yet know. 1950Times Lit. Suppl. 9 June 361/2 The whole field of ‘the Unseen’, survival after death, ghosts, mediums, precognition, gypsies, astrology, spiritual healing, in short, what it is now fashionable to call ‘psi’. 1955A. Huxley Let. 27 Aug. (1969) 761 The effects [of amanita]..are quite alarmingly powerful, and it will obviously take a lot of very cautious experimentation to determine the right psi-enhancing dose of the mushroom. 1968New Scientist 10 Oct. 77/1 He was even starting to produce scores that were significantly below chance (a well-known effect which parapsychologists call ‘psi-missing’). 1969J. I. M. Stewart Cucumber Sandwiches 31 ‘Are individuals any longer described as psychic, Arthur?’.. ‘The jargon changes. The ‘psi-factor’ is all the go now.’ 1976Jrnl. Soc. Psychical Res. XLVIII. 267 Empirical evidence exists to the contrary; i.e. that psi can act independently of the brain without following the limiting characteristics of space, time and physical causality. 1977N.Y. Rev. Bks. 13 Oct. 45/3 The very essence of sound experimental design in parapsychology is to close all cheating loopholes. Until they are closed, no experiment indicating sensational psi powers is worth publishing.
▪ II. psi2
var. p.s.i. s.v. P II. |