quantum states
Subatomic existence modes
Quantum states are the complete mathematical descriptions of particles or systems at the subatomic level.
Unlike classical physics, where objects have definite properties, quantum states express probabilities—a particle exists in a superposition of possibilities until measured.
The term appears in discussions of quantum computing, where qubits exploit these states to process information: The system maintains multiple quantum states simultaneously.
Logical internal consistency
- entanglementState of being intertwined
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
- collapseSudden structural failure
- decoherenceLoss of quantum coherence
qubit · wave function · psi · normalization · measurement · observation · mixed state
Lowest possible energy configuration
- excited stateElevated energy configuration
- ionizationCharge acquisition process
- emission spectrumLight pattern from excited atoms
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
orbital · transition · fluorescence · phosphorescence · valence · eigenstate · degeneracy · energy level
Lack of fixed outcome
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
- HeisenbergGerman quantum theorist
- measurement problemWhy observation affects outcomes
- observer effectWatching something changes it
fluctuations · randomness · unpredictability · variance · stochastic · complementarity · momentum · position
Out of bed
- downToward lower ground
- fermionHalf-integer spin particle
- bosonInteger-spin subatomic particle
- singletSleeveless athletic garment
triplet · polarization · alignment · precession · gyromagnetic ratio · half-integer
Quantum state evolution law
- wave functionQuantum system's complete description
- complex numbersNumbers containing imaginary components
- linear algebraMathematics of vector spaces
- operatorOne who works machinery
Correlations without spatial contact
- correlationStatistical relationship measure
- separableCapable of being divided
- inseparableUnable to be divided
- bipartiteDivided into two parts
coherence
Logical internal consistency
- entanglementState of being intertwined
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
- collapseSudden structural failure
decoherence · qubit · wave function · psi · normalization · measurement · observation · mixed state
ground state
Lowest possible energy configuration
- excited stateElevated energy configuration
- ionizationCharge acquisition process
- emission spectrumLight pattern from excited atoms
spectroscopy · orbital · transition · fluorescence · phosphorescence · valence · eigenstate · degeneracy · energy level · selection rules
indeterminacy
Lack of fixed outcome
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
- HeisenbergGerman quantum theorist
- measurement problemWhy observation affects outcomes
observer effect · fluctuations · randomness · unpredictability · variance · stochastic · complementarity · momentum · position · probabilistic
up
Out of bed
singlet · triplet · polarization · alignment · precession · gyromagnetic ratio · half-integer
Schrodinger equation
Quantum state evolution law
- wave functionQuantum system's complete description
- complex numbersNumbers containing imaginary components
- linear algebraMathematics of vector spaces
nonlocality
Correlations without spatial contact
- correlationStatistical relationship measure
- separableCapable of being divided
- inseparableUnable to be divided
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
- Invisiblesair, atoms, electrons, gravity, magnetism
- atomic physicsatom, atoms, atomic nucleus, electron, atomic number
- Quantum Mechanicssuperposition, entanglement, wave function, uncertainty principle, Schrodinger equation
- quantum physicswave function, Schrodinger equation, eigenvalue, Heisenberg, eigenstate
- excitationsquasiparticles, singlet state, energy level, energy levels
states, quantum, quantifiable, quanta, quantization, quantized, quantize, quantum state