Franck-Condon principle
noun
Franck-Con·don principle
ˈfraŋkˈkändən-,
-räŋ-
: a principle in spectroscopy: the intensities of molecular spectral bands due to electronic transitions are consistent with the assumption that the relatively large mass of the atomic nuclei in the molecule prevents appreciable change in their configuration during such transitions
Word History
Etymology
after James Franck †1964 American physicist born in Germany and Edward U. Condon, born 1902 American physicist
First Known Use
1928, in the meaning defined above