Pipe charged particles in huge numbers (9)

I believe the answer is:

trillions

'huge numbers' is the definition.
(a trillion is a large number)

'pipe charged particles' is the wordplay.
'pipe' becomes 'trill' (both can mean to sing as a bird).
'charged particles' becomes 'ions' (electrically charged particles).
'trill'+'ions'='TRILLIONS'

'in' is the link.

(Another definition for trillions that I've seen is " lots and lots".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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