| a form of quantum mechanics formulated in terms of a wave equation, as the Schrödinger equation. |
| wave mechanics n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A theory that ascribes characteristics of waves to subatomic particles and attempts to interpret physical phenomena on this basis. |
| wave mechanics
A theory that interprets the behavior of matter (especially subatomic or other small particles) in terms of the properties of waves. A broad range of physical phenomena, from the propagation of earthquakes to the structures of electron orbitals in atoms, have been understood using wave mechanics. Quantum mechanics uses a form of wave mechanics and involves wave equations such as Schrödinger's equation to capture both the wavelike and particlelike properties of matter. |
