What does 'quantum' mean?

[donilpark]

I am quite curious about what quantum that appears in the game means.
I know it's study of particles at subatomic level, and I know quantization means that there is the minimum amount of energy.
But what do they really mean?
What is quantum mechanic's relationship with weapons and reactors in the game?

If someone know physics, please enlighten me.
Especially what 'quantization' means.

 

[CrackedCrystal]

Quantization has two meanings:

1) The first is to reduce a set of values to a set of values with fewer choices.

2) The second (and the one that applies to the game) is to apply Quantum Mechanics to something. For example, I read a document once that was the Quantization of Gravity. It explained using quantum mechanics how gravity worked. I however, did not understand a word of it

As for Quantum mechanics relating to weapons and reactors? You should sum that up to Science Fiction. Maybe the quantum beams disrupt the atoms of the target? I do not know of any real life examples.

 

[dguichar]

Originally posted by CrackedCrystal

...

2) The second (and the one that applies to the game) is to apply Quantum Mechanics to something. For example, I read a document once that was the Quantization of Gravity. It explained using quantum mechanics how gravity worked. I however, did not understand a word of it
...

If you understand quantum mechanics... you should know two things: the Uncertainess Principle & the Quantic Numbers

Uncertainess Principle: When you increase certainty on the position of a particle you decrease the certainty on its momentum (mass by speed)

Quantic Numbers: Each particle kind has its own and sometimes unique energy level, orbital, angular momentum & spin.

For gravity there's an interaction between the interacting bodies. There are virtual particles known as gravitons which do the process. They appear and dissappear according to the magnitude of the gravitational force implied.

Keep civilized

David