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wave function

Also known as wavefunction, quantum wave function

mathematical description of the quantum state of a system; complex-valued probability amplitude, and the probabilities for the possible results of measurements made on the system can be derived from it

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A wave function is a mathematical description that captures the quantum state of a system, encoding information as a complex-valued probability amplitude. From it, physicists can calculate the probabilities of getting different results when they measure properties of that system.

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Image: Quantum mechanics travelling wavefunctions wavelength.svg

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Commons category: Quantum mechanics

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Quantum harmonic oscillators for a single spinless particle. The oscillations have no trajectory, but are instead represented each as waves; the vertical axis shows the real part (blue) and imaginary part (red) of the wave function. Panels A–D show four different standing-wave solutions of the Schrödinger equation. Panels E–F show two different wave functions that are solutions of the Schrödinger equation but not standing waves.

The wave function of an initially very localized free particle