zero-point energy

English

Calque of German Nullpunktenergie.

zero-point energy (plural zero-point energies)

(physics, quantum mechanics) The lowest possible energy of a given quantum mechanical system.
The existence of a zero-point energy (i.e., the existence of a non-zero lower limit to the energy of a quantum-mechanical system) is a consequence of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.
- 2000, Stephen T. Thornton, Andrew F. Rex, Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Saunders College Publishing, page 205,
  Our estimate for the zero-point energy of the harmonic oscillator is ${\\displaystyle \\hbar \\omega /2}$ .
(physics, physical chemistry) The kinetic energy possessed by (the particle constituents of) a substance at absolute zero temperature.
- 2004, Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, Volume 73, Pages 1-768, Physical Society of Japan, page 441,
  The calculated zero-point energies of hydrogen at inner bulk, GB, and FS are within 0.12-0.16eV/H.

lowest possible energy of a quantum mechanical system

energy possessed by an object at a temperature of absolute zero