Phrase guide

Lamb shift

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A small difference between the energy levels 2S_1⁄2 and 2P_1⁄2 of the hydrogen atom, not predicted by the Dirac equation, whose detection in the Lamb–Retherford experiment of 1947 foreshadowed the development of quantum electrodynamics (in which the discrepancy is explained to be an effect of the emission and re-absorption of virtual photons); such a difference between otherwise expectedly equal energy levels of hydrogen or any other type of atom.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: quantum mechanics; quantum electrodynamics; quantum mechanics; quantum electrodynamics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Named after American physicist Willis Lamb (1913-2008).

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: décalage de Lamb — difference between energy levels
  • French: déplacement de Lamb — difference between energy levels
  • German: Lamb-Verschiebung — difference between energy levels
  • Italian: spostamento di Lamb — difference between energy levels
  • Portuguese: desvio de Lamb — difference between energy levels