Terms starting with Q
17 terms
Q-Value
The net amount of energy released or absorbed during a nuclear reaction or radioactive decay process.
Nuclear & Particle PhysicsQuantum Chromodynamics (QCD)
The relativistic quantum field theory describing the strong nuclear interaction between color-charged quarks and gluons.
Condensed Matter & Materials PhysicsQuantum Confinement Effect
The shift and quantization of electronic energy levels when charge carriers are confined within spatial dimensions smaller than their De…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsQuantum Decoherence
The loss of quantum coherence where interaction between a quantum system and its macro-environment converts a quantum superposition into a…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsQuantum Dots
Nanometer-scale semiconductor crystals that trap charge carriers in all three spatial dimensions, exhibiting artificial atom quantized…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsQuantum Electrodynamics (QED)
The relativistic quantum field theory describing how light (photons) and charged matter (electrons/positrons) interact.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsQuantum Entanglement
A quantum phenomenon in which two or more particles become interconnected such that the quantum state of each particle cannot be described…
Condensed Matter & Materials PhysicsQuantum Hall Effect
A quantum mechanical version of the Hall effect observed in 2D electron gases at low temperatures and intense magnetic fields, where Hall…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsQuantum Harmonic Oscillator
The quantum mechanical analogue of a classical harmonic oscillator, describing a particle bound in a parabolic potential well V(x) = ½ m ω²…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsQuantum Operators
Linear mathematical operators that act on a wave function to yield physical observables (such as position, momentum, or energy).
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsQuantum Superposition
A core principle of quantum mechanics stating that a quantum system can exist in a linear combination of multiple distinct quantum states…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsQuantum Tunneling
A quantum phenomenon where a particle passes through a potential energy barrier higher than the particle's kinetic energy.
Nuclear & Particle PhysicsQuark Flavor
The quantum property that distinguishes the six fundamental types of quarks in the Standard Model.
Plasma PhysicsQuark-Gluon Plasma (QGP)
A extreme phase of quantum chromodynamic (QCD) matter where hadrons melt into a deconfined state of free quarks and gluons at extreme…
Nuclear & Particle PhysicsQuarks
Fundamental spin-1/2 elementary particles that experience all four fundamental interactions and combine via the strong force to form…
Astrophysics, Cosmology & RelativityQuasar
An extremely luminous Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) powered by gas accreting onto a supermassive black hole at the center of a distant…
Plasma PhysicsQuasi-neutrality
The property of a plasma where positive ion charge density and negative electron charge density are nearly equal across spatial scales…