excimer
UK[ˈɛksɪmə]US[ˈɛksɪmər]
n
A short-lived dimeric or heterodimeric molecule formed from two species, at least one of which is in an excited electronic state, typically produced for use in lasers.
Morpheme Breakdown
exci
mer
exci
excited
mer
part, unit
Etymology
The term 'excimer' is a modern scientific coinage from the mid-20th century, specifically created to describe a novel type of molecule used in laser technology. It is a portmanteau formed by contracting 'excited dimer'. The first element, 'exci-', captures the crucial state of being energetically 'excited', while the second, '-mer', derives from the Greek root for 'part', a standard suffix in chemistry for molecular units. Thus, the word's construction transparently encodes its definition: a molecular unit (dimer) in an excited state, elegantly bridging its classical linguistic components to a precise, contemporary technical meaning.
Analysis
Structure: exci (excited) + mer (part, unit)
'exci' is a clipped form from 'excited', originating from Latin 'excitare' (to call forth, arouse). 'mer' is from Greek 'meros' (part, share), commonly used in scientific terminology to denote a unit of polymer or a part of a molecule.
Examples
An excimer laser is commonly used in eye surgery to correct vision.
The research focused on the properties of the noble gas excimer.
Excimer formation is a key step in the laser's operation.