wave packet

noun

: a pulse of radiant energy that is the resultant of a number of wave trains of differing wavelengths

Examples of wave packet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Using the quantum wave-particle duality, in which matter behaves both like tiny billiard balls and wave packets, engineers can then use lasers and magnetic fields to split the BEC cloud into two or more coherent matter-wave packets. —

IEEE Spectrum, 3 June 2024 When later recombined, the interference patterns of the multiple wave packets are studied to discover even the most minuscule accelerations—tinier than conventional accelerometers could measure—to the wave packets’ positions in three-dimensional space. —

IEEE Spectrum, 3 June 2024 The equations of quantum mechanics describe how the wave packet splits in two upon hitting the obstacle. —

Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2020 Now picture the wave packet traveling, tsunami-like, toward a barrier. —

Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2020 This bell curve, called a wave packet, is centered at position A. —

Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wave packet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.