Term Index (Q)

• Q:
  • critical density (ρ_c): density of the universe which leaves it flat
  • rare designator prefixes: designator prefixes generally used for only a few objects
  • Toomre Q parameter (Q): stability criterion for differentially rotating disks
• Q band:
  • infrared (IR): electromagnetic radiation, wavelength .74-300 micrometers
  • mid infrared (MIR): infrared radiation with wavelengths in the 7.5um-25um range
• Q factor: measure of oscillator's damping
• Q parameter:
  • Toomre Q parameter (Q): stability criterion for differentially rotating disks
• q₀:
  • critical density (ρ_c): density of the universe which leaves it flat
• Qatar:
  • Qatar Exoplanet Survey (QES): photometric survey in search of transients
• Qatar Exoplanet Survey (QES): photometric survey in search of transients
• Qatari:
  • Qatar Exoplanet Survey (QES): photometric survey in search of transients
• QES:
  • Qatar Exoplanet Survey (QES): photometric survey in search of transients
• QM:
  • quantum mechanics (QM): modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
• QQ:
  • rare designator prefixes: designator prefixes generally used for only a few objects
• QQQ:
  • rare designator prefixes: designator prefixes generally used for only a few objects
• QRO:
  • Queen's University Radio Observatory (QRO): early radio astronomy facility near Kingston, Ontario
• QSG:
  • quasar (QSO): distant, bright object that appears something like a star
• QSO:
  • quasar (QSO): distant, bright object that appears something like a star
• QSO B1957+405:
  • Cygnus A (3C 405,QSO B1957+405): early-discovered radio galaxy and quasar
• QSR:
  • quasar (QSO): distant, bright object that appears something like a star
• QSS:
  • quasar (QSO): distant, bright object that appears something like a star
• QT1:
  • QUIJOTE: survey to measure the polarization of the CMB
• QT2:
  • QUIJOTE: survey to measure the polarization of the CMB
• quadrapole:
  • multipole expansion: series expansion of a function over the surface of a sphere
• quadratic field strength: a measure of a star's varying magnetic field
• quadrupole:
  • multipole expansion: series expansion of a function over the surface of a sphere
• quadrupole expansion:
  • multipole expansion: series expansion of a function over the surface of a sphere
• quadrupole formula:
  • gravitational wave (GW): ripples in the curvature of spacetime propagating as a wave
• quadrupole moment of mass:
  • gravitational wave (GW): ripples in the curvature of spacetime propagating as a wave
• quality factor:
  • Q factor: measure of oscillator's damping
• quantum: minimal amount of something that triggers a reaction
• quantum computing:
  • quantum: minimal amount of something that triggers a reaction
• quantum degeneracy:
  • degeneracy: general word meaning a violation of normal rules
• quantum fluctuation:
  • quantum mechanics (QM): modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
• quantum mechanics (QM): modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
  • atomic excitation: atoms with electrons above the ground state
  • conservation law: property that remains unchanged by physical phenomena
  • de Broglie wavelength: wavelength of a particle's matter wave
  • degeneracy: general word meaning a violation of normal rules
  • degeneracy weight: number of quantum states with same energy level
  • degree of ionization: fraction of material consisting of ions
  • electron degeneracy: the condition of electrons supported solely by the Pauli exclusion principle
  • electron orbital: a nucleus's "locations" where an electron can orbit
  • false vacuum: apparent QM vacuum
  • fine structure: spectral lines due to electron spin and relativistic effects
  • forbidden line: lines that quantum mechanics disallows for the most part
  • Hamiltonian: mathematical transform useful in mechanics
  • hyperfine structure: spectral lines from magnetic and spin interactions between electrons and nucleus
  • metastable: characteristic of an excited state that lasts longer than typical
  • oscillator strength: fraction expressing QM's contribution to the probability of absorption
  • Pauli exclusion principle: fermions in a quantum system cannot have identical quantum numbers
  • photon: quantum of light, i.e., light as a particle
  • Planck constant (h): quantum of action in quantum mechanics
  • quantum: minimal amount of something that triggers a reaction
  • quantum mixing: means by which one particle spontaneously changes to another
  • quantum number: number representing a conserved quantity
  • quantum tunneling: quantum mechanical effect of particles passing through a barrier
  • spin (m_s): an angular-momentum quantum number
  • standard model: model of elementary particles including quarks
  • state of excitation: energy level of something above the minimum
  • state of ionization: difference in an ion's electron count versus proton count
  • statistical mechanics: mechanical behavior based upon probability
• quantum mixing: means by which one particle spontaneously changes to another
  • neutralino: proposed type of particle that might include wimps
  • supersymmetry: extension to standard model of particle physics
• quantum number: number representing a conserved quantity
• quantum physics:
  • quantum mechanics (QM): modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
• quantum state:
  • degeneracy: general word meaning a violation of normal rules
  • degeneracy weight: number of quantum states with same energy level
  • partition function (Z): scale factor for Boltzmann factors
  • quantum mechanics (QM): modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
• quantum system:
  • quantum mechanics (QM): modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
• quantum theory:
  • quantum mechanics (QM): modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
• quantum tunneling: quantum mechanical effect of particles passing through a barrier
• quark:
  • baryon: protons, neutrons, and other three-quark particles
  • particle: very small thing
  • pion (π): first type of meson discovered
  • standard model: model of elementary particles including quarks
  • supersymmetry: extension to standard model of particle physics
• quasar (QSO): distant, bright object that appears something like a star
  • 3C 273: first quasar discovered
  • 3C 303: Seyfert galaxy
  • 3C 48: radio galaxy/quasar
  • 3C 9: first quasar discovered
  • Cygnus A (3C 405,QSO B1957+405): early-discovered radio galaxy and quasar
• quasar feedback:
  • star formation feedback: mechanisms whereby star formation regulates its own rate
• quasars:
  • 2dF-SDSS LRG and QSO survey (2SLAQ): spectroscopic survey of distant galaxies
  • active galactic nucleus (AGN): central region of a galaxy with extremely high luminosity
  • Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS): survey of spatial distribution of luminous red galaxies and quasars
  • blazar: very compact variable quasar
  • Canada-France High-z Quasar Survey (CFHQS): 2000s distant quasar survey
  • deep field (DF): survey field subject to lengthy observation to identify distant galaxies
  • deep survey: survey using lengthy observation to identify distant galaxies
  • Gunn-Peterson trough: spectral feature in EMR from redshift 6+
  • Hamburg/ESO Survey (HE): 1990s southern hemisphere survey aimed at finding quasars
  • Hewitt & Burbidge Catalog (HB87): optical catalog of quasi-stellar objects
  • Large Bright QSO Survey (LBQS): 1980s quasar survey
  • large quasar group (LQG): structure consisting of a collection of quasars
  • NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED): a database of galaxies and other objects outside the Milky Way
  • Palomar-Green Survey (PG): list of quasars with excess ultraviolet light
  • Roma-BZCAT: 2013 catalog of blazars
  • Second Byurakan Survey (SBS): 1970s-1990s survey of galaxies and quasars
  • Soltan argument: distant quasars imply SMBHs still exist
  • submillimeter galaxy (SMG): galaxy that produces significant submillimeter radiation
• quasi-stellar galaxy:
  • quasar (QSO): distant, bright object that appears something like a star
• quasi-stellar object:
  • quasar (QSO): distant, bright object that appears something like a star
• quasi-stellar radio source:
  • quasar (QSO): distant, bright object that appears something like a star
• quasi-stellar source:
  • quasar (QSO): distant, bright object that appears something like a star
• Queen's University At Kingston:
  • Queen's University Radio Observatory (QRO): early radio astronomy facility near Kingston, Ontario
• Queen's University Radio Observatory (QRO): early radio astronomy facility near Kingston, Ontario
• quench:
  • star formation (SF): theorized collapse of gas and dust into stars
• quenched galaxy: galaxy currently producing minimal stars
• QUEST: sixteen square-degree survey camera
• quiescent:
  • star formation (SF): theorized collapse of gas and dust into stars
  • starburst galaxy: galaxy forming stars at a very high rate
• quiescent galaxy:
  • starburst galaxy: galaxy forming stars at a very high rate
• quiescent phase:
  • symbiotic binary: giant star transferring mass to a somewhat distant companion
• quiescent state:
  • stellar flare: sudden brightening of a star
• QUIJOTE: survey to measure the polarization of the CMB
• QUIJOTE-CMB Telescopes:
  • QUIJOTE: survey to measure the polarization of the CMB