n. A vector whose direction is unchanged by a given transformation and whose magnitude is changed by a factor corresponding to that vector's eigenvalue. In quantum mechanics, the transformations involved are operators corresponding to a physical system's observables. The eigenvectors correspond to possible states of the system, and the eigenvalues to possible observed values. [Partial translation of German Eigenvektor : eigen-, characteristic; see EIGENVALUE + Vektor, vector.] |
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