1. Plural of isospin; a quantum number used in particle physics to describe the internal symmetry of subatomic particles, particularly nucleons and pions.
Usage: physics; technical

Examples

• In nuclear physics, isospins help classify particles that have similar properties but different electric charges.
• The concept of isospins was introduced to explain the near-identical masses of protons and neutrons.
• Physicists use isospins to predict how particles interact in high-energy collisions.
• The strong nuclear force treats particles with different isospins in a symmetric manner.
• Isospins are conserved in interactions governed by the strong force.