1. a system of four electric charges or magnetic poles arranged in a specific pattern
Usage: physics
2. an electrical or magnetic field configuration produced by such a system
Usage: physics

Examples

• The quadrupole moment describes the distribution of charge in the molecule.
• Scientists used a quadrupole mass spectrometer to analyze the sample.
• The quadrupole field helps focus the particle beam in the accelerator.
• Nuclear quadrupole resonance is used in some medical imaging techniques.
• The quadrupole interaction affects the energy levels of atomic nuclei.
• Researchers measured the electric quadrupole moment of the nucleus.