conjugate variables
(redirected from Conjugate quantities)conjugate variables
[′kän·jə·gət ′ver·ē·ə·bəlz] (quantum mechanics)
A pair of physical variables describing a quantum-mechanical system such that their commutator is a nonzero constant; either of them, but not both, can be precisely specified at the same time. Also known as complementary variables.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.