quantum
Smallest possible portion
Quantum refers to the smallest discrete unit of something, especially in physics where energy and matter behave in distinct packets rather than continuous flows.
A quantum leap in physics is the tiniest possible change—an electron jumping between energy levels—but popular usage has inverted this to mean a dramatic breakthrough: a quantum leap in technology.
Quantum as an adjective describes phenomena at subatomic scales where classical physics breaks down: quantum mechanics, quantum computing.
Outside science, quantum sometimes appears as an impressive-sounding modifier for anything cutting-edge or transformative.
Quantum state's mathematical representation
- HeisenbergGerman quantum theorist
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- PlanckQuantum theory's founder
- superpositionCoexisting in multiple states
entanglement · particle · electron · photon · quark · boson · fermion · Schrödinger
Coexisting in multiple states
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- decoherenceLoss of quantum coherence
- wavefunctionQuantum state's mathematical representation
- collapseSudden structural failure
measurement · probability · amplitude · phase · interference · eigenstate · ground state · excited state
Quantum information unit
- algorithmFinite problem-solving procedure
- cryptographyScience of secure messaging
- parallelismMatching structural elements
- error correctionFixing identified mistakes
decoherence · fault-tolerant · superposition · entanglement · topological · scalability · simulation
Ordered numerical arrangement
- observableCapable of being detected
- eigenvalueScalar satisfying determinant equation
- eigenvectorDirection preserved under transformation
- operatorOne who works machinery
commutator · Dirac · notation · formalism · postulate · normalization
Electromagnetic radiation unit
- excitationStimulation of response
- emissionDischarged substance or act
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
wavelength · frequency · radiation · transition · fluorescence · discrete · blackbody · ultraviolet
Correlations without spatial contact
- correlationStatistical relationship measure
- teleportationInstantaneous displacement across space
- particlesMinute pieces of matter
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
measurement · collapse · Einstein · paired · instantaneous · distant
wavefunction
Quantum state's mathematical representation
- HeisenbergGerman quantum theorist
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- PlanckQuantum theory's founder
superposition · entanglement · particle · electron · photon · quark · boson · fermion · Schrödinger · relativity
superposition
Coexisting in multiple states
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- decoherenceLoss of quantum coherence
- wavefunctionQuantum state's mathematical representation
collapse · measurement · probability · amplitude · phase · interference · eigenstate · ground state · excited state · transition
qubit
Quantum information unit
- algorithmFinite problem-solving procedure
- cryptographyScience of secure messaging
- parallelismMatching structural elements
error correction · decoherence · fault-tolerant · superposition · entanglement · topological · scalability · simulation
matrix
Ordered numerical arrangement
- observableCapable of being detected
- eigenvalueScalar satisfying determinant equation
- eigenvectorDirection preserved under transformation
operator · commutator · Dirac · notation · formalism · postulate · normalization
photon
Electromagnetic radiation unit
- excitationStimulation of response
- emissionDischarged substance or act
- absorptionProcess of taking in
spectroscopy · wavelength · frequency · radiation · transition · fluorescence · discrete · blackbody · ultraviolet · infrared
nonlocality
Correlations without spatial contact
- correlationStatistical relationship measure
- teleportationInstantaneous displacement across space
- particlesMinute pieces of matter
coherence · measurement · collapse · Einstein · paired · instantaneous · distant
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
- computingcomputer, computers, software, hardware, code
- popular physicslayman's terms, Einstein, Feynman, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Carl Sagan
- Sci-Fi Termsfuturistic, alien, robotic, cybernetic, galactic
- Q wordsquack, quail, quake, quality, quarrel
- atomic physicsatom, atoms, atomic nucleus, electron, atomic number
quantumclassical
Of ancient Greece/Rome
macroscopic · Newtonian · relativistic · large-scale · deterministic
- quality over quantityPreferring excellence to abundance
- quantum leapSudden dramatic advancement
- unknown quantityUndetermined value or factor
- known quantityEstablished, predictable element
- quantum physicsStudy of nanoscopic phenomena
- quantum mechanicsPhysics at nanoscopic scales
quantity, quantify, quantitative, quantifiable, quantified, quantification, quanta, quantifier, quantization