kvantován

Kvantován is a Czech word that translates to "quantized" in English. It refers to the process or state of something being divided into discrete, indivisible units, known as quanta. This concept is fundamental to quantum mechanics, a branch of physics that describes the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic levels.

In quantum mechanics, many physical quantities, such as energy, momentum, and angular momentum, are not continuous but exist only in specific, discrete amounts. For example, the energy of an electron orbiting an atom is quantized, meaning it can only occupy certain energy levels. When an electron jumps between these levels, it absorbs or emits a specific amount of energy, a quantum, which corresponds to the difference in energy between the levels.

The idea of quantization was first introduced by Max Planck in 1900 to explain the spectrum of blackbody radiation. He proposed that energy is emitted and absorbed in discrete packets, or quanta, proportional to the frequency of the radiation. Albert Einstein later extended this concept to light itself, proposing that light is composed of discrete particles called photons, each carrying a quantum of energy.

The principle of quantization has had profound implications for our understanding of the universe, leading to the development of technologies such as lasers, transistors, and atomic clocks. It signifies a departure from classical physics, where quantities are generally assumed to be continuous and infinitely divisible.