wave function

noun, Physics.
1.
a solution of a wave equation.
2.
(in quantum mechanics) a mathematical function, found by solving a quantum-mechanical wave equation, that is used to predict the outcome of measurements on physical systems.
Examples from the web for wave function
  • Teleportation is a protocol about how to send a quantum state-a wave function-from one place to another.
  • The quantum conjugate of the wave function is essential to experiment but without logical foundation apart from vague conjecture.
  • When the wave function finally collapses, it's never in your favor.
  • Now suppose you start with a universe specified by some wave function that completely specifies it.
  • Then everything there is to know about the universe is specified by that wave function.
  • To switch metaphors, science is better than religion at collapsing the wave function of truth.
  • Therefore, wave packet and neutrino oscillation wave function superposition are incompatible.
  • At the center of quantum physics is a wave function.
  • If quantum physics is correct, every object in the universe has a wave function.
British Dictionary definitions for wave function

wave function

noun
1.
(physics) a mathematical function of position and generally time, used in wave mechanics to describe the state of a physical system ψ
wave function in Science
wave function  
A mathematical function used in quantum mechanics to describe the propagation of the wave associated with a particle or group of particles. The wave function is a solution to Schrödinger's equation, given the boundary conditions that describe the physical system in which the particle is found. The square of the absolute value of the function evaluated at a given point in space is proportional to the probability of finding the particle in the immediate vicinity of that position.