Cluster (physics)

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In physics, the term clusters denotes small, polyatomic particles. As a rule of thumb, any particle made of between 3×10⁰ and 3×10⁷ atoms is considered a cluster.

The term can also refer to the organization of protons and neutrons within an atomic nucleus, e.g. the alpha particle (also known as "α-cluster"^[1]), consisting of two protons and two neutrons (as in a helium nucleus).