quantum mechanics

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Definition of quantum mechanics

: a theory of matter that is based on the concept of the possession of wave properties by elementary particles, that affords a mathematical interpretation of the structure and interactions of matter on the basis of these properties, and that incorporates within it quantum theory and the uncertainty principle — called also wave mechanics

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quantum mechanical

adjective

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quantum mechanically

adverb

Recent Examples of quantum mechanics from the Web

The middle is where the mathematics of Einstein and quantum mechanics collide, and in that collision there are fireworks and the equations just fall apart.

— denise chow /, NBC News, "Physicist Brian Greene on the three biggest science mysteries he'd like to see solved," 10 June 2018
Twenty-four of the world’s leading scientists — including Edward Teller, J. Robert Oppenheimer, John von Neumann and Richard Feynman — gathered to discuss the foundations of quantum mechanics.

— julie lasky, New York Times, "Shelter Island, N.Y.: A Paradise That Has Its Challenges," 16 May 2018
Most of quantum mechanics deals with probabilities rather than certainties.

— james gleick, New York Times, "What Does Quantum Physics Actually Tell Us About the World?," 8 May 2018
Once, when the family was in Britain during World War II, Dr. Born recalled that he was sent by his father to a London hotel to deliver a letter to Niels Bohr, another Nobel laureate and a principal figure in the creation of quantum mechanics.

— martin weil, Washington Post, "Gustav Born, British medical researcher who studied blood platelets, dies at 96," 5 May 2018
Dancing droplets Instead of dissolving into the fluid bath underneath them, the droplets bounce like tennis balls on a sensuously flexible trampoline, emulating the behavior of electrons in quantum mechanics, but on a macroscopic scale.

— steven litt, cleveland.com, "Tauba Auerbach show at MOCA Cleveland melds art, physics (photos)," 15 Apr. 2018
At that minuscule size, the strange rules of quantum mechanics come into play and novel properties emerge.

— dennis overbye, New York Times, "Peter Grünberg, 78, Winner of an ‘iPod Nobel,’ Is Dead," 12 Apr. 2018
According to quantum mechanics, an atom can only absorb a photon of particular energies and colors as the electron within the atom hops from a lower energy state to a higher energy state.

— adrian cho, Science | AAAS, "Atoms and antiatoms haven’t crashed Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity—yet," 4 Apr. 2018
Or conceivably one will be able to use quantum mechanics to effectively achieve it.

— stephen wolfram, WIRED, "2001: A Space Odyssey Predicted The Future—50 Years Ago," 3 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'quantum mechanics.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of quantum mechanics

1922

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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