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Astrophysics, Cosmology & Relativity

Light Year

An astronomical unit of length equal to the distance light travels in a vacuum in one Julian year (365.25 days).

1 ly = c × 1 year ≈ 9.461 × 10¹⁵ m ≈ 63,241 AU Light-Years (ly)
Mathematical & Computational Physics

Linear Algebra

The mathematical discipline studying vector spaces, linear transformations, matrices, and systems of linear equations.

A x = b, v · w = ∑ v_i w_i Vector Spaces & Matrices
Biophysics & Medical Physics

Linear Energy Transfer (LET)

A measure of the rate at which an ionizing radiation particle deposits ionization energy along its path length through biological tissue.

LET = dE / dx keV/μm (Kiloelectronvolts per micrometer)
Thermodynamics & Statistical Physics

Linear Thermal Expansion

The fractional change in length of a solid material per degree change in temperature.

ΔL = α L0 ΔT K⁻¹ (°C⁻¹)
Condensed Matter & Materials Physics

Liquid Crystals

States of matter possessing physical properties intermediate between conventional isotropic liquids and ordered crystalline solids.

Nematic Order Parameter S = ½ ⟨3 cos² θ - 1⟩ Dimensionless Orientational Order S
Nuclear & Particle Physics

Liquid Drop Model

A classical nuclear model treating the atomic nucleus as an incompressible liquid droplet of dense nuclear fluid bound by short-range…

E_b = a_v A - a_s A^(2/3) - a_c Z²/A^(1/3) - a_a (A-2Z)²/A + δ MeV (Binding Energy Calculation)
Waves, Oscillations & Acoustics

Lissajous Figures

Complex geometric curves traced by combining two perpendicular simple harmonic oscillations.

x(t) = A sin(a t + δ), y(t) = B sin(b t) N/A
Geophysics & Environmental Physics

Lithosphere

The rigid, brittle outermost mechanical shell of Earth comprising the entire crust and uppermost solid mantle.

Elastic Thickness h_e ~ 10–200 km km (Lithospheric Thickness)
Astrophysics, Cosmology & Relativity

Local Group

The small galaxy cluster group comprising the Milky Way, Andromeda (M31), Triangulum (M33), and over 80 dwarf satellite galaxies.

Diameter ~ 3 Mpc (~10 million ly), Mass ~ 2 × 10¹² M_☉ Megaparsecs (Mpc)
Electromagnetism & Electronics

Logic Gates

Elementary digital electronic building blocks that perform Boolean logical operations on one or more binary inputs to yield a single binary…

AND: Y = A·B; OR: Y = A + B; NOT: Y = Ā; NAND: Y = (A·B)̄ Binary (0 or 1)
Waves, Oscillations & Acoustics

Longitudinal Wave

A wave in which medium particles oscillate parallel to the direction of wave energy propagation.

s(x,t) = s_max cos(k x - ω t) m
Astrophysics, Cosmology & Relativity

Lorentz Factor

The fundamental relativistic factor by which time dilation, length contraction, and relativistic mass scale for objects moving at velocity…

γ = 1 / √(1 - v²/c²) = 1 / √(1 - β²) Dimensionless Factor (γ ≥ 1)
Electromagnetism & Electronics

Lorentz Force

The combined force exerted on a charged particle moving through electromagnetic fields containing both electric and magnetic field…

F = q (E + v × B) N (Newtons)
Waves, Oscillations & Acoustics

Loudness

The subjective human psychological sensation of sound strength, depending on physical intensity and ear frequency response.

Loudness ∝ log10(I / I0) Sone (or Phon)
Optics

Luminous Flux

A photometric quantity measuring total perceived power of light emitted by a source, weighted by human eye spectral sensitivity.

Φ_v = 683 ∫ P(λ) V(λ) dλ Lumens (lm)
Quantum & Atomic Physics

Lyman Series

The hydrogen spectral series resulting from electron transitions dropping from higher excited states down to the ground state (n=1).

1 / λ = R_H (1 / 1² - 1 / n_i²), n_i = 2, 3, 4... Ultraviolet Wavelengths (nm)