Noun: quadrupole 'kwó-dru,pówl
- (physics) a distribution with four charges or similar, arranged similar to a 2x2 array with (+ -) on top of (- +); the most large-scale anisotropic component of a distribution function with no monopole or dipole
"Quadrupole moments are important in nuclear and molecular physics"
Derived forms: quadrupoles
Encyclopedia: Quadrupole