momentum wave function

momentum wave function

[mō′ment·əm ′wāv ‚fəŋk·shən]

(quantum mechanics)

A function of the momenta of a system of particles and of time which results from taking Fourier transforms, over the coordinates of all the particles, of the Schrödinger wave function; the absolute value squared is proportional to the probability that the particles will have given momenta at a given time.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.