Fun with physics: Quantum Leaps

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 12:00:53 +0200
rants

A quantum leap is a leap between two states where there is no state in between. That makes it usually quite small, but also quite sudden (think of Lasers).

So a quantum leap is a jump not allowing any intermediate states, i.e. a "abrupt change, sudden increase" like Merriam Webster defines it. This then get a "dramatic advance" and suddenly the meaning shifted from something so small it could not be divided to something quite big.

But before you complain people use the new common meaning instead of the classic physicalistic meaning, ask yourself: Would you prefer if people kept talking about "disruptive" changes to announce they did something big?

Update: I'm using quantum jump in the sense as for example used in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_electron_transition. If quantum jump is something different to you, my post might not make much sense.