Gamma
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Current revision
- This article is about the letter. For the electromagnetic ray, see Gamma ray
[[Image:Greek alphabet {{{letter|alpha-omega}}}.png| 200px|center]] | |
Greek alphabet | |
---|---|
Α α Alpha | Β β Beta |
Γ γ Gamma | Δ δ Delta |
Ε ε Epsilon | Ζ ζ Zeta |
Η η Eta | Θ θ Theta |
Ι ι Iota | Κ κ Kappa |
Λ λ Lambda | Μ μ Mu |
Ν ν Nu | Ξ ξ Xi |
Ο ο Omicron | Π π Pi |
Ρ ρ Rho | Σ σ ς Sigma |
Τ τ Tau | Υ υ Upsilon |
Φ φ Phi | Χ χ Chi |
Ψ ψ Psi | Ω ω Omega |
obsolete letters | |
Image:Greek alphabet digamma2.png Digamma | Image:Greek alphabet san.png San |
Image:Greek alphabet qoppa.png Qoppa | Image:Greek alphabet sampi.png Sampi |
Image:Greek alphabet stigma.png Stigma | Image:Greek alphabet sho.png Sho |
In Modern Greek, it is pronounced [[voiced velar fricative|Template:IPA]] or [[Voiced palatal fricative|Template:IPA]], and in Ancient Greek, it was pronounced [[voiced velar plosive|Template:IPA]] or [[velar nasal|Template:IPA]] before plosives.
Contents |
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Use in science
Gamma is often used to denote a variable in mathematics and physics. In certain areas it has specific meaning.
- Gamma correction in photography, television and computer display systems. Gamma is the exponent in a power-law relationship between video or pixel values and the displayed brightness. In photography it is the slope of the curve of (density or log(opacity)) of the film image versus log(exposure) (the Hurter-Driffield curve), in the straight line region.
- 1 gamma is a unit of magnetic flux density, 1 gamma = 10−9 tesla or 1 nanotesla.
- Gamma waves are a type of brain waves around 40 hertz.
- Gamma rays are the highest point on the electromagnetic spectrum.
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Upper-case
The upper-case letter Γ is used as the symbol for:
- The gamma function (related to factorials) in mathematics.
- The Gamma distribution in probability theory and statistics.
- The Christoffel symbol in General Relativity.
- The reflection coefficient in electrical engineering.
- The linewidth relating to uncertainty of mass energy in short-lived particles.
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Lower-case
The lower-case letter γ is used as the symbol for:
- The Euler-Mascheroni constant in mathematics.
- A risk management measure in mathematical finance.
- The photon, seen as an elementary particle in physics.
- Gamma rays in physics and astronomy.
- The Lorentz factor in relativity theory and astronomy.
- The adiabatic index of a gas in physics. Often the letter kappa κ is used.
- The propagation constant of an electromagnetic wave (in electrical engineering and electromagnetic theory).
- The third brightest (usually) star in a constellation. See Bayer designation.
- A microgram. This use is deprecated by the SI.
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Fictional names
- In the game of Tetris, gamma is another name for the J tetromino.
- E-102 Gamma is a fictional robotic character in the Sonic the Hedgehog universe.
- Gamma is a giant peace-keeping robot stolen by Dr. Wily which is the final boss of Capcom's Nintendo game Megaman 3.
- Gamma is the third caste in Aldous Huxley's dystopic satire Brave New World.
- The Nintendo character Waluigi has an upside-down "L" on his hat the looks like "Γ" to some people, keeping in theme with Wario's upside-down "M".
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Trivia
- Tropical Storm Gamma is the third Atlantic tropical storm to be named using the Greek alphabet.als:Γ
bg:Гама (буква) ca:Gamma da:Gamma (bogstav) de:Gamma el:Γάμμα es:Γ fr:Gamma ga:Gáma gl:Gamma ko:Γ he:גמא (אות) la:Gamma nl:Gamma (letter) nds:Gamma ja:Γ no:Gamma nn:Gamma pl:Gamma pt:Γ ru:Гамма (буква) sl:Gama sr:Гама fi:Gamma sv:Gamma