shot noise: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “shot noise” mean?
Random electrical noise arising from the discrete nature of electric charge (electrons) and the statistical variation in their flow.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Random electrical noise arising from the discrete nature of electric charge (electrons) and the statistical variation in their flow.
In broader physics and engineering contexts, any random signal fluctuation resulting from the discrete, quantized nature of particles (photons, electrons) or events.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Spelling of related terms may follow regional norms (e.g., 'analyse' vs. 'analyze' in surrounding text).
Connotations
Purely technical, with no cultural or regional connotations.
Frequency
Used with equal frequency in relevant scientific and engineering communities in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “shot noise” in a Sentence
Shot noise is observed in [electronic component].The [measurement] is limited by shot noise.[Device] exhibits significant shot noise.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shot noise” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The shot-noise component was analysed separately.
American English
- The shot-noise component was analyzed separately.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in physics, electrical engineering, and optics research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in electronics, photonics, experimental physics, and precision measurement.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shot noise”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shot noise”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shot noise”
- Using it to refer to any audible noise, like a gunshot. Confusing it with 'white noise' or 'thermal noise'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Thermal noise (Johnson-Nyquist noise) comes from the thermal agitation of charge carriers. Shot noise arises from the discrete passage of charge carriers across a barrier, independent of temperature.
Not directly as an everyday sound, but when converted to an audio signal (e.g., in a very quiet, high-gain amplifier), it would manifest as a subtle, constant crackling or hissing.
In devices where current flows across a potential barrier, such as PN junctions (diodes, transistors), photodiodes, and vacuum tubes.
The effect was first described and explained by Walter Schottky in 1918, hence the synonym 'Schottky noise'.
Random electrical noise arising from the discrete nature of electric charge (electrons) and the statistical variation in their flow.
Shot noise is usually technical / scientific in register.
Shot noise: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃɒt nɔɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃɑːt nɔɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not applicable for this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the sound of individual raindrops (shots) hitting a tin roof. Each drop is a discrete electron, and the irregular pattering is the 'noise' in the current.
Conceptual Metaphor
NOISE IS A RAIN OF PARTICLES. The signal disturbance is conceptualized as the random impact of discrete particles.
Practice
Quiz
Shot noise is most closely associated with which concept?