Hamiltonian

noun

Ham·​il·​to·​ni·​an ˌha-məl-ˈtō-nē-ən How to pronounce Hamiltonian (audio)
: a function that is used to describe a dynamic system (such as the motion of a particle) in terms of components of momentum and coordinates of space and time and that is equal to the total energy of the system when time is not explicitly part of the function compare lagrangian

Examples of Hamiltonian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For one thing, as temperatures drop, the new algorithm becomes slower and requires a larger sample size to effectively compute the Hamiltonian. Quanta Magazine, 1 May 2024 The researchers took aim at the 10-particle SYK model, which has a Hamiltonian of 210 terms. Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 23 Mar. 2023 The Hamiltonian describes how the qubits change from one moment to the next. Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 23 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Sir William Hamilton †1865 Irish mathematician

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Hamiltonian was in 1926

Dictionary Entries Near Hamiltonian

Cite this Entry

“Hamiltonian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hamiltonian. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Hamiltonian

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!