quantize

quantize [kwon-tahyz] Word Origin 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.

Also especially British, quan·tise. Origin of quantize First recorded in 1920–25; quant(um) + -ize Related formsquan·ti·za·tion, noun British Dictionary definitions for quantised quantize quantise verb (tr)

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

Derived Formsquantization or quantisation, noun quantised in Science 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.