quantizationn.
/ˌkwɒntʌɪˈzeɪʃn/, U.S. /ˌkwɑn(t)əˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/, /ˌkwɑnˌtaɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/ 1. Physics. The application of quantum theory to a system, phenomenon, subject, etc.; the fact or state of being quantized.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > quantum theory > [noun] > application of quantum theory
quantization1920
quantizing1923
1920 L. Silberstein Rep. Quantum Theory Spectra Contents 6. Restricting Inequalities. Quantization of Orbits in Space.
1922 Rep. Brit. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 1921 473 In some cases..the quantisation can be done in several ways and each leads to a different set of permissible orbits.
1925 Nature 5 Dec. 849/1 It seemed possible to formulate certain general laws, the so-called rules of ‘quantisation’, by means of which the stationary states were to be chosen from the continuous manifold of such motions.
1940 S. Glasstone Text-bk. Physical Chem. i. 63 The existence of 2j + 1 magnetic quantum numbers for each value of j implies that the electrons can take up 2j + 1 different orientations in a magnetic field..: in other words, there should be a quantization of electron orbits.
1988 J. V. Narlikar Primeval Universe vi. 205 When Maxwell's field theory is quantized, the space-time in which the quantization is carried out remains unaltered.
2001 L. Knöll et al. in J. Perina Coherence & Statistics Photons & Atoms i. 3 The problem of the quantization of the radiation field in absorbing bulk dielectrics.
2. Electronics. The action or process of quantizing a signal (see quantize v. 2); the state of being so quantized. Usually attributive: relating to or resulting from a quantized state, as quantization distortion, quantization noise.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > telecommunication > [noun] > signal > approximating to discrete levels
quantizing1923
quantization1947
1947 Bell Syst. Techn. Jrnl. 26 395 PCM involves the application of two basic concepts. These concepts are..the time-division principle and the amplitude quantization principle.
1948 Proc. IRE 36 1324/2 Representing the signal by certain discrete allowed levels only is called quantizing. It inherently introduces an initial error in the magnitude of the samples, giving rise to quantization noise.
1975 D. G. Fink Electronics Engineers' Handbk. iv. 44 A quantization noise..is inevitably associated with all quantized signals. This noise can be made as small as desired by choosing enough quantization levels.
1990 Sail Mar. 68/3 A more recent refinement of the digital display is multilevel quantization, a fancy name for brightness according to strength of a target's radar return.
1997 Electronic Engin. Times 21 July 72/3 Adding the A/D and D/A converters to the test will add quantization noise and lower the performance.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1920