Term Index (Q)

Astrophysics (Index)

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Term Index (Q)

Astrophysical terms and names of things beginning with the letter Q.

QA QB QC QE QF QG QK QM QN QP QQ QR QS QT QU QW

Q (Toomre Q parameter): stability criterion for differentially rotating disks
Q: see Stokes parameters
Q: see filter designator
Q: see quasar
Q: see rare designator prefixes
- tidal Q: measure of orbital energy dissipated per orbit due to tidal forces
q (deceleration parameter): measure of the Hubble expansion's deceleration
q (mass ratio): ratio of masses of two objects such as a binary star
- chirp mass: a reduced-mass-like quantity that relates to gravitational waves
- critical density: density of the universe which leaves it flat
Q band: name for EMR frequency-range on the order of 45 GHz
Q band: see infrared
- mid infrared: infrared radiation with wavelengths in the 7.5-25 μm range
Q factor: measure of oscillator's damping
- tidal Q: measure of orbital energy dissipated per orbit due to tidal forces
Q parameter (Toomre Q parameter): stability criterion for differentially rotating disks
Q&U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology (QUBIC): survey measuring the polarization of the CMB
Q-U-I Joint Tenerife Experiment (QUIJOTE): survey to measure the polarization of the CMB
Q/U Imaging Experiment (QUIET): survey to measure the polarization of the CMB
Q_λ: see extinction
q_c: see deceleration parameter
- critical density: density of the universe which leaves it flat
Qatar: see Qatar Exoplanet Survey
Qatar Exoplanet Survey: photometric survey that searched for transiting planets
Qatari

Qatar Exoplanet Survey: photometric survey that searched for transiting planets

QBO (quasi-biennial oscillation): reversal of Earth equatorial prevailing winds roughly every two years
QCD: see quantum field theory
QCD: see strong force
- quantum mechanics: modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
- quark: type of elementary particle incorporated in protons and neutrons
- quark matter: matter not made of protons and neutrons but of quarks
QCD matter (quark matter): matter not made of protons and neutrons but of quarks
QE (quantum efficiency): measure of instrument's ability to sense EMR
QED: see quantum field theory
- Hanbury Brown and Twiss effect: EMR interference stemming from variation in intensity
- quantum mechanics: modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
QES (Qatar Exoplanet Survey): photometric survey that searched for transiting planets
QFT (quantum field theory): reworking of quantum mechanics incorporating fields
- conformal field theory: a type of quantum field theory
- effective field theory: type of useful simplification of a field theory
- false vacuum: apparent QFT vacuum
- fuzzy dark matter: concept of extremely light dark matter particles
- quantum mechanics: modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
QGP (quark-gluon plasma): extreme-temperature state of matter
QK metric

theoretical modified GR metric: metric devised to define modifications to GR

QM (quantum mechanics): modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
QM (quark matter): matter not made of protons and neutrons but of quarks
- atomic excitation: electrons above the ground state within atoms
- Bose-Einstein condensate: rare state of matter possible at cryogenic temperatures
- Compton wavelength: lower bound on a particle's possible de Broglie wavelength
- Cooper pair: pair of electrons sharing a particular type of bond
- 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
- electron degeneracy: electrons set free of atoms by the Pauli exclusion principle
- electron orbital: a nucleus's "locations" where an electron can orbit
- Fermi sea: atom's minimal-energy electrons filling its lower shells
- fine structure: separate spectral lines due to electron spin and relativistic effects
- neutron star: stellar remnant consisting entirely of solar masses of neutrons
QMAP: mid 1990s balloon-based CMB survey
QMC (quantum Monte Carlo): MC approach to difficult quantum mechanical problems
QN: see neutron star
QP: see rare designator prefixes
QPO (quasi-periodic oscillation): type of flicker of some X-ray sources
QQ: see rare designator prefixes
QQQ: see rare designator prefixes
QRFH (quad-ridge flared horn): type of horn that can be incorporated in radio telescope feeds
QRFH feed: see quad-ridge flared horn
QRO (Queen's University Radio Observatory): early radio astronomy facility near Kingston, Ontario
QSG: see quasar
QSO (quasar): distant, bright object that appears something like a star
QSO B1957+405 (Cygnus A): early-discovered radio galaxy showing a quasar
QSR: see quasar
QSS: see quasar
QSS: see speckles
QT1: see QUIJOTE
QT2: see QUIJOTE
QUaD: survey to measure the polarization of the CMB
- South Pole Station: science station at the South Pole
quad: see filter designator
quad-ridge flared horn: type of horn that can be incorporated in radio telescope feeds
quadrapole: see multipole expansion
quadratic field strength: a measure of a star's varying magnetic field
quadratic surface: see spheroid
- paraboloid: circularly-symmetric 3D surface based on parabola
quadrupole: see multipole expansion
quadrupole expansion: see multipole expansion
quadrupole formula

gravitational wave: ripples in the curvature of spacetime propagating as a wave

quadrupole moment of mass

gravitational wave: ripples in the curvature of spacetime propagating as a wave

quake: vibration episode in a body
quality factor (Q factor): measure of oscillator's damping
- tidal Q: measure of orbital energy dissipated per orbit due to tidal forces
quantum: minimal amount of something that triggers a reaction
quantum chromodynamics: see quantum field theory
quantum chromodynamics: see strong force
- quantum mechanics: modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
- quark: type of elementary particle incorporated in protons and neutrons
- quark matter: matter not made of protons and neutrons but of quarks
quantum computing: see quantum
- quantum Monte Carlo: MC approach to difficult quantum mechanical problems
quantum degeneracy: see degeneracy
quantum efficiency: measure of instrument's ability to sense EMR
- photometry: studying starlight using optical filters
- photomultiplier tube: electronic device to detect light
quantum electrodynamics: see quantum field theory
- Hanbury Brown and Twiss effect: EMR interference stemming from variation in intensity
- quantum mechanics: modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
quantum field theory: reworking of quantum mechanics incorporating fields
- conformal field theory: a type of quantum field theory
- effective field theory: type of useful simplification of a field theory
- false vacuum: apparent QFT vacuum
- fuzzy dark matter: concept of extremely light dark matter particles
- quantum fluctuations: short-lived particles popping up at random
- quantum mechanics: modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
quantum fluctuation: see quantum mechanics
- Hawking radiation: EMR theorized to be emitted by black holes, powered by their mass
quantum fluctuations: short-lived particles popping up at random
- black hole: region of such high mass that light cannot escape
- cosmological simulation: simulation of the history of the universe
quantum gravity: see graviton
quantum hydrodynamics: see Madelung equations
quantum mechanics: modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
- amplitude: the height of a wave
- atomic excitation: electrons above the ground state within atoms
- Bose-Einstein condensate: rare state of matter possible at cryogenic temperatures
- Compton wavelength: lower bound on a particle's possible de Broglie wavelength
- conservation law: property that remains unchanged by physical phenomena
- Cooper pair: pair of electrons sharing a particular type of bond
- 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
- electron degeneracy: electrons set free of atoms by the Pauli exclusion principle
- electron orbital: a nucleus's "locations" where an electron can orbit
- Fermi sea: atom's minimal-energy electrons filling its lower shells
- fine structure: separate spectral lines due to electron spin and relativistic effects
- forbidden line: spectral line that quantum mechanics disallows for the most part
- graviton: quantum of gravity
- Hamiltonian: mathematical transform useful in mechanics
- Heisenberg uncertainty principle: limit on observable position and momentum of an object
- hyperfine structure: spectral lines from magnetic and spin interactions between electrons and nucleus
- initial fluctuations: early universe density variations leading to current universe
- ion: non-neutral atom or molecule, with missing or extra electrons
- Madelung equations: quantum hydrodynamic equations
- mechanics: the science of forces and motions
- metastable: characteristic of an excited state that lasts longer than typical
- observable: any physical phenomenon that you can detect
- 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
- phase space: space of all possible states of a system
- photon: quantum of light, i.e., light as a particle
- Planck constant: quantum of action in quantum mechanics
- plasmon: quasiparticle that is quantum of plasma vibration
- quantum: minimal amount of something that triggers a reaction
- quantum field theory: reworking of quantum mechanics incorporating fields
- quantum fluctuations: short-lived particles popping up at random
- quantum mixing: means by which one particle spontaneously changes to another
- quantum number: number representing a conserved quantity
- quantum system: situation in which quantum theory applies
- quantum tunneling: quantum mechanical effect of particles passing through a barrier
- quasiparticle: disturbance that acts like a particle
- relativistic effect: a substantial fraction of the speed of light
- Schrödinger equation: quantum-mechanical wave-equation-like equation
- Schrödinger-Poisson equation: Schrödinger equation including a term for gravity
- spin: 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
- WKB method: method of numerically solving certain differential equations
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 Monte Carlo: MC approach to difficult quantum mechanical problems
quantum Monte Carlo: see Monte Carlo method
quantum number: number representing a conserved quantity
quantum optics: see optics
quantum physics (quantum mechanics): modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
quantum rules: see quantum mechanics
quantum scale: see quantum mechanics
quantum state: see quantum mechanics
- degeneracy: general word meaning a violation of normal rules
- degeneracy weight: number of quantum states with same energy level
- partition function: scale factor for Boltzmann factors
quantum system: situation in which quantum theory applies
quantum system: see quantum mechanics
quantum theory (quantum mechanics): modern mechanical theory of small things, on the scale of atoms
- atomic excitation: electrons above the ground state within atoms
- Bose-Einstein condensate: rare state of matter possible at cryogenic temperatures
- Compton wavelength: lower bound on a particle's possible de Broglie wavelength
- Cooper pair: pair of electrons sharing a particular type of bond
- 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: electrons set free of atoms by the Pauli exclusion principle
- electron orbital: a nucleus's "locations" where an electron can orbit
- false vacuum: apparent QFT vacuum
- Fermi sea: atom's minimal-energy electrons filling its lower shells
- fine structure: separate spectral lines due to electron spin and relativistic effects
- quantum Monte Carlo: MC approach to difficult quantum mechanical problems
quantum tunneling: quantum mechanical effect of particles passing through a barrier
- Heisenberg uncertainty principle: limit on observable position and momentum of an object
Quaoar

Kuiper Belt: further part of solar system beyond Neptune

quark: type of elementary particle incorporated in protons and neutrons
quark: see particle
- baryon: protons, neutrons, and other three-quark particles
- exotic star: term for theoretical stars not made of atoms/ions
- flavor: subtype of some type of particle
- hyperon: exotic type of baryon
- pion: first type of meson discovered
- quark matter: matter not made of protons and neutrons but of quarks
- quark-gluon plasma: extreme-temperature state of matter
- standard model: model of elementary particles including quarks
- supersymmetry: extension to standard model of particle physics
quark condensate: see quark matter
quark matter: matter not made of protons and neutrons but of quarks
- exotic star: term for theoretical stars not made of atoms/ions
- neutron degenerate matter: matter made up primarily of neutrons
- neutron star: stellar remnant consisting entirely of solar masses of neutrons
- quark: type of elementary particle incorporated in protons and neutrons
quark star: see exotic star
quark star: see quark matter
quark-gluon plasma: extreme-temperature state of matter
quark-nova: see neutron star
quarter-wave plate: see waveplate
Quasar: see quasar
quasar: distant, bright object that appears something like a star
- 3C 273: first quasar discovered
- 3C 279: striking variable quasar
- 3C 303: Seyfert galaxy of interest
- 3C 48: radio galaxy/quasar
- 3C 9: first quasar discovered
- Cygnus A: early-discovered radio galaxy showing a quasar
- PG 1302-102: galaxy possibly with binary SMBH
- TXS 0506+056: blazar that is a neutrino source
quasar feedback: see star formation feedback
quasars

2dF-SDSS LRG and QSO survey: spectroscopic survey of distant galaxies
active galactic nucleus: central region of a galaxy with extremely high luminosity
Baldwin effect: relation between quasar line width and luminosity
Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey: survey of spatial distribution of luminous red galaxies and quasars
blazar: very compact variable quasar
broad line region: AGN region producing broader lines
Canada-France High-z Quasar Survey: 2000s distant quasar survey
deep field: survey field subject to lengthy observation to identify distant galaxies
Deep Multicolor Survey: 1990s optical and infrared deep survey
deep survey: survey using lengthy observation to identify distant galaxies
extragalactic astronomy: astronomy of other galaxies, galaxy clusters, AGNs, quasars, etc.
Giant Gemini GMOS survey: spectrographic survey of distant quasars
Gunn-Peterson trough: spectral feature in EMR from redshift 6+
Hamburg/ESO Survey: 1990s southern hemisphere survey aimed at finding quasars
Hewitt & Burbidge Catalog: optical catalog of quasi-stellar objects
Huge-LQG: possible overly-large structure
Large Bright QSO Survey: 1980s quasar survey
large quasar group: structure consisting of a collection of quasars
narrow line region: AGN region producing narrower lines
NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database: a database of galaxies and other objects outside the Milky Way
Palomar high-redshift quasar surveys: 1980s Hale-telescope quasar searches using new technology
proximity effect: Ly-α forest characteristics revealing quasar history
reverberation mapping: technique for measuring the size of SMBHs
Roma-BZCAT: 2008 catalog of blazars
SDSS-DR12 Quasars: catalog of quasar information in SDSS DR12
SDSS-DR16 Quasars: catalog of quasar information in SDSS DR16
Second Byurakan Survey: 1970s-1990s survey of galaxies and quasars
Soltan argument: distant quasars imply SMBHs still exist
submillimeter galaxy: galaxy that produces significant submillimeter radiation
XQR-30: ESO-VLT quasar survey

quasi-biennial oscillation: reversal of Earth equatorial prevailing winds roughly every two years
quasi-host: see quasi-satellite
quasi-Kerr metric

theoretical modified GR metric: metric devised to define modifications to GR

quasi-periodic oscillation: type of flicker of some X-ray sources
quasi-satellite: body that orbits near another though they aren't bound
quasi-star: see exotic star
quasi-static speckles: see speckles
quasi-stellar galaxy: see quasar
quasi-stellar object (quasar): distant, bright object that appears something like a star
quasi-stellar radio source: see quasar
quasi-stellar source: see quasar
quasiparticle: disturbance that acts like a particle
QUBIC: survey measuring the polarization of the CMB
Queen's Radio Observatory (Queen's University Radio Observatory): early radio astronomy facility near Kingston, Ontario
Queen's University At Kingston

Queen's University Radio Observatory: early radio astronomy facility near Kingston, Ontario

Queen's University Radio Observatory: early radio astronomy facility near Kingston, Ontario
quenched galaxy: galaxy currently producing minimal stars
- starburst galaxy: galaxy forming stars at a very high rate
quenching: see quenched galaxy
- star formation: theorized collapse of gas and dust into stars
QUEST: sixteen square-degree survey camera
QUEST: see ESO Schmidt Telescope
- LaSilla-QUEST Variability Survey: survey for transients
QUEST at DASI (QUaD): survey to measure the polarization of the CMB
quiescent: see star formation
quiescent BHB: see black hole binary
quiescent galaxy (quenched galaxy): galaxy currently producing minimal stars
quiescent galaxy: see starburst galaxy
quiescent phase: see symbiotic binary
quiescent state

stellar flare: sudden brightening of a star

QUIET: survey to measure the polarization of the CMB
quiet BHB: see black hole binary
QUIID (Simultaneous Quad Infrared Imaging Device): NOAO instrument imaging in four infrared bands at once
QUIJOTE: survey to measure the polarization of the CMB
QUIJOTE-CMB Telescopes

QUIJOTE: survey to measure the polarization of the CMB

QWSII: see Lowell Discovery Telescope

Index