quantum state

nounPhysics.

the condition in which a physical system exists, usually described by a wave function or a set of quantum numbers.

Origin of quantum state

First recorded in 1920–25

Words Nearby quantum state

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use quantum state in a sentence

This means that changes made to the quantum state of one particle are reflected in the other, and this property is a key ingredient in both quantum computers and quantum communication.
Connecting Distant Qubits Just Brought Distributed Quantum Computing Closer | Edd Gent | February 8, 2021 | Singularity Hub
Each friend is represented by a simple setup that makes a measurement on the photon, such that the photon takes one of two paths or enters into a superposition of taking both paths at once, depending on the initial quantum state of the photon.
A New Theorem Maps Out the Limits of Quantum Physics | Anil Ananthaswamy | December 3, 2020 | Quanta Magazine
Remarkably, it demonstrated, among other consequences, why the electrons in an atom don’t all cluster together in the lowest energy quantum state and render it unstable.
The Synchronicity of Wolfgang Pauli and Carl Jung - Issue 93: Forerunners | Paul Halpern | November 18, 2020 | Nautilus
Doing calculations with a quantum computer is a race against time, thanks to the fragility of the quantum states at their heart.
Could Quantum Computing Progress Be Halted by Background Radiation? | Edd Gent | August 31, 2020 | Singularity Hub
This is a version of the R-process, taking place constantly, which in general induces small and random changes in the quantum state of the field.
Schrödinger’s Cat When Nobody Is Looking - Issue 89: The Dark Side | Daniel Sudarsky | August 26, 2020 | Nautilus

British Dictionary definitions for quantum state

quantum state

noun

physics a state of a system characterized by a set of quantum numbers and represented by an eigenfunction. The energy of each state is precise within the limits imposed by the uncertainty principle but may be changed by applying a field of force. States that have the same energy are called degenerate: See also energy level

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for quantum state

quantum state

A description in quantum mechanics of a physical system or part of a physical system. Different quantum states for a physical system show discrete differences in the value of the variables used to define the state. For example, the spin of an isolated electron can take on one of only two values; there are no other quantum states available for the electron and no intermediate values, since spin is quantized. The quantum state is sometimes described by a set of quantum numbers that pick out the appropriate values for describing the state.

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