quantize

[ kwon-tahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, quan·tized, quan·tiz·ing.

1. Mathematics, Physics. to restrict (a variable quantity) to discrete values rather than to a continuous set of values.
2. Physics. to change the description of (a physical system) from classical to quantum-mechanical, usually resulting in discrete values for observable quantities, as energy or angular momentum.

quantize

/ ˈkwɒntaɪz /

verb

1. physics to restrict (a physical quantity) to one of a set of values characterized by quantum numbers
2. maths to limit (a variable) to values that are integral multiples of a basic unit

quantize

/ kwŏn′tīz′ /

1. To limit a variable or variables describing a physical system to discrete, distinct values. For example, the energy of electromagnetic radiation such as light at a given frequency must be an integer multiple of hν, where ν is the frequency and h is a Planck's constant; electromagnetic energy is thus inherently quantized (in this case, photons are the quanta of energy). The distinct orbitals of electrons in an atom are also a case of quantized energy. Many apparently continuous phenomena turn out to be quantized at a very fine level or very small scale; quantum mechanics was developed in large part to explain many unexpected cases of quantization in the natural world.

Derived Forms

• ˌquantiˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• quan·ti·za·tion [kwon-tahy-, zey, -sh, uh, n], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of quantize¹

First recorded in 1920–25; quant(um) + -ize