rhizoverbBeta
DictionarydegeneracyShared value
noun

degeneracy

The sharing of the same mathematical or physical value by distinct states.

The two states exhibit degeneracy because they have equal energies.

Etymology
deLatinaway from
+generLatinkind
+acyEnglishstate

Latin de- and genus connect degeneracy with departure from an expected kind. Technical usage applies that departure to lost distinctness, when different states share a value that might otherwise distinguish them.

More examples

  • A magnetic field lifts the degeneracy of these energy levels.
  • The matrix has a twofold degeneracy at this eigenvalue.
  • Small perturbations remove the degeneracies in the system's energy spectrum.

Forms

degeneracy · degeneracies

degenerate adjective — Sharing one value with another distinct state.