Glossary of Physical Terms used in the Poems

The Wiggler: If a charged particle such as an electron is made to 'wiggle' (perform an oscillatory motion), it emits electromagnetic radiation - 'light' in shorthand. Very fast beams of electrons can be made to wiggle by passing them through a series of alternating magnetic fields. These alternating magnetic fields can be produced by a series of permanent magnets which constitute the 'wiggler'. Very high intensity light can be produced by this method in a type of laser called the free-electron laser.