QPs

QPs is an acronym used in several domains, and its meaning depends on the context. The term does not have a single universal definition.

In physics and materials science, QPs commonly stand for quasi-particles. Quasi-particles are emergent excitations in many-body systems that behave like particles, enabling simplified descriptions of complex interactions. Examples include phonons (quantized lattice vibrations), excitons (bound electron–hole pairs), and magnons (spin waves). They are not fundamental particles, but useful effective entities in condensed matter physics and related fields.

In European pharmaceutical regulation, QP refers to a Qualified Person. A Qualified Person is a professional responsible for ensuring that medicinal products meet quality and safety standards before release into the market. Requirements typically include relevant qualifications, training, and authorization by a national competent authority. The QP’s duties cover batch release, oversight of quality systems, review of manufacturing records, and compliance with regulatory standards.

In optimization and computer science, QP can denote quadratic programming problems. These are mathematical optimization problems where the objective function is quadratic and the constraints are linear. Quadratic programming is widely studied and applied in operations research, economics, and engineering.

Other uses of the acronym exist in various disciplines, but the above are among the most common. As with many abbreviations, the intended meaning of QPs is usually clear from the surrounding context.