zero-point energy

English

Etymology

Calque of German Nullpunktenergie.

Noun

zero-point energy (plural zero-point energies)

1. (physics, quantum mechanics) The lowest possible energy of a given quantum mechanical system.

   The existence of a zero-point energy (i.e., the existence of a non-zero lower limit to the energy of a quantum-mechanical system) is a consequence of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.

   • 2000, Stephen T. Thornton, Andrew F. Rex, Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Saunders College Publishing, page 205,

     Our estimate for the zero-point energy of the harmonic oscillator is $\hbar \omega /2$.

2. (physics, physical chemistry) The kinetic energy possessed by (the particle constituents of) a substance at absolute zero temperature.
   • 2004, Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, Volume 73, Pages 1-768, Physical Society of Japan, page 441:

     The calculated zero-point energies of hydrogen at inner bulk, GB, and FS are within 0.12-0.16eV/H.

Synonyms

• ground state energy, zero-point radiation, ZPE

Related terms

• zero-point field

Translations

lowest possible energy of a quantum mechanical system

• Finnish: nollapiste-energia
• Georgian: ნულოვანი წერტილის ენერგია (nulovani c̣erṭilis energia)
• German: Nullpunktenergie f
• Italian: energia di punto zero f
• Romanian: energie de punct zero f

energy possessed by an object at a temperature of absolute zero

• Finnish: nollapiste-energia
• Georgian: ნულოვანი წერტილის ენერგია (nulovani c̣erṭilis energia)
• German: Nullpunktenergie f
• Italian: energia di punto zero f
• Romanian: energie de punct zero f

Further reading

• Casimir effect on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Absolute zero on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Thermodynamic temperature on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Ground state on Wikipedia.Wikipedia