chain reaction

This term describes a process of cascading causality where an initial trigger sets off a sequence of similar events. In a general sense, it often carries a connotation of uncontrollability or rapid escalation, frequently appearing in contexts involving economic crashes, social panics, or psychological triggers.

In a technical scientific context, the term refers specifically to nuclear physics. Here, it describes a precise mechanism of neutron emission and absorption. While the general usage is often metaphorical or descriptive of chaos, the scientific usage is a neutral, technical description of a physical process.