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| physical phenomena > event > atomic process > ionization > photoionization |
| photoionization comparison table | ||
| Subject | is a kind of | has definition |
|---|---|---|
| ionization | atomic process | Loss or gain by an atom of one or more electrons, by which process the atom becomes an ion and instead of being neutral, has a charge: positive if it has lost an electron, negative if it has gained one. High temperature is particularly conducive to ionization. |
| photoionization | ionization | The ionization of an atom or molecule by the absorption of a high-energy photon by the particle. It is an important source of opacity in stars. |
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