quantizev.
/ˈkwɒntʌɪz/, U.S. /ˈkwɑnˌtaɪz/ 1. transitive. Physics. To apply quantum theory to; esp. to restrict the number of possible values or states of (a quantity or system) so that certain of its variables can assume only certain discrete magnitudes that are multiples of a common factor. Cf. quantized adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > quantum theory > apply quantum theory [verb (transitive)]
quantize1920
1920 L. Silberstein Rep. Quantum Theory Spectra 15 Proceeding to quantize also the inclination α of the plane of the orbit with respect to an arbitrarily fixed reference plane.
1922 Rep. Brit. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 1921 473 For the specific heats of gases..it is necessary to ‘quantise’ rotations instead of vibrations.
1927 N. V. Sidgwick Electronic Theory of Valency 25 Just as we must quantize the angular momentum of the electron in the ellipse, so we must quantize that of the rotation (precession) of the ellipse itself.
1973 Physics Bull. Nov. 656/2 This amplification of gravity produces a theory which cannot be quantized by standard methods, however.
1988 J. V. Narlikar Primeval Universe vi. 201 The theoretician wants to be able to quantize gravity, because of his firm belief that the ultimate description of nature is a quantum one.
2004 K. Nakamura & T. Harayama Quantum Chaos & Quantum Dots vi. 83 Let us quantize a 2-d noninteracting electron gas.
2. transitive. Electronics. To approximate (a signal varying continuously in amplitude) by one whose amplitude is restricted to a prescribed set of discrete values. Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > telecommunication > [verb (transitive)] > approximate to discrete levels
quantize1947
1947 Bell Syst. Techn. Jrnl. 26 409 The background noise which is present to a greater or lesser extent in all communication circuits, is quantized by the PCM system.
1953 Electronic Engin. 25 148/1 If the signal is sampled before being quantized, harmonics (including the first) of the pulse repetition frequency will be present.
1986 R. L. Brewster Telecommunications Technol. vii. 132 It is possible to quantise using non-linear step sizes which are considerably smaller for weak signals than for strong signals.
1993 Music Technol. May 17/2 I'll lay a rough piano guide straight into the sequencer, about 50 bars or so, without quantising it, and then we'll start layering sounds.
3. transitive. In extended use: to divide into discrete units or into the smallest possible component parts; to convert into or express in terms of quanta.
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1955 Lang. 31 426 The study and analysis of speech..strongly supports the thesis that speech is quantized.
1965 Revue Internat. de la Documentation 32 21/2 To do this it is necessary to quantize the texts by dividing them into convenient units.
1974 Sci. Amer. Dec. 132/2 Because curves can be coded to any desired precision by numbers, a symphony, like a painting or a poem, can be quantized and expressed by a number chain.
1991 Jrnl. Semantics 8 371 We do so by splitting up the time at which a state homogeneously holds into continuous stretches of time at which the state holds just for a while... One way of quantizing a state is to explicitly assign a duration to the state.
Derivatives
ˈquantizing n. and adj. (a) n. quantization; frequently attributive; (b) adj. that undergoes quantization, quantized.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > telecommunication > [adjective] > quantizing
quantizing1923
the world > matter > physics > quantum theory > [noun] > application of quantum theory
quantization1920
quantizing1923
the world > matter > physics > quantum theory > [adjective] > applying quantum theory
quantizing1923
society > communication > telecommunication > [noun] > signal > approximating to discrete levels
quantizing1923
quantization1947
1923 E. N. da C. Andrade Struct. Atom ix. 147 The principle laid down for the quantising of angular momentum gives mvr = nh/2π, where n is a whole number.
1948 Bell Syst. Techn. Jrnl. 27 456 Since quantizing noise is uniformly distributed throughout the signal band, its interfering effect..is probably similar to that of thermal noise.
1986 N. S. Jayant in T. C. Bartee Digital Communications VIII. 320 This ensures that the high amplitudes in speech do not overload the quantizing system.
2002 Computer Music Jan. 32/2 If you've played a MIDI part into your sequencer via a keyboard but it's not totally in time, quantising automatically moves the notes around so that they adhere to any one of a selectable variety of rhythmic ‘strictures’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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