flux

1. The discharge of a fluid material in large amount from a cavity or surface of the body. SEE ALSO: diarrhea. 2. Material discharged from the bowels. 3. A material used to remove oxides from the surface of molten metal and to protect it when casting; serves a similar purpose in soldering operations. Also, an ingredient in dental porcelain that by its lower melting temperature helps to bond the silica particles. 4. (J) The moles of a substance crossing through a unit area of a boundary layer or membrane per unit of time. SYN: f. density (1). 5. Bidirectional movement of a substance at a membrane or surface. 6. In diagnostic radiology, photon fluence per unit time. 7. The strength of a field of force ( e.g., magnetic) orthogonal to a unit area. 8. The rate of chemical or physical transformation or translocation of a substance per unit time. [L. fluxus, a flow]

- luminous f. the quantity of light emitted from a point source in a given time; its unit is the lumen.

- net f. the difference between the two unidirectional fluxes.

- unidirectional f. the f. of a substance from one surface of a boundary layer or membrane to the other, disregarding any counterbalancing f. in the other direction, as measured by tracer technique.

* * *

flux 'fləks n

1 a) a flowing or discharge of fluid from the body esp. when excessive or abnormal: as (1) diarrhea (2) dysentery

b) the matter discharged in a flux

2) the rate of transfer of fluid, particles, or energy across a given surface

* * *

n.

an abnormally copious flow from an organ or cavity. Alvine flux is diarrhoea.

* * *

(fluks) [L. fluxus] 1. the rate of the flow of some quantity (or magnetic field) per unit area. 2. a substance that maintains the cleanliness of metals to be united and facilitates the easy flow and attachment of solder.