quantum field

Noun

quantum field (plural quantum fields)

1. (quantum mechanics) A quantum operator-valued function of (any point in) space.
   • In Chaps. 3, 4, and 5, we saw that for each spin type, the Schrödinger picture wave equation for a state and the Heisenberg picture wave equation for the associated quantum field had the same form. In the former case, the wave equation solution was a state, i.e., a particle wave function. In the...2013, Robert D. Klauber, Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory, 2nd edition, Fairfield, IA: Sandtrove Press, published 2018, →ISBN, →OCLC, §7.2.1, page 186
   • The result is zero expectation value for φ, and this would be true for whatever state, including the vacuum, that we choose. This effectively means that we would measure nothing if we tried to measure the quantum field φ. The field itself is unmeasurable.ibid., §7.3.1, page 190

   Synonyms:

   operator field