Lambda

Encyclopedia : L : LA : LAM : Lambda

Lambda (uppercase Λ, lowercase λ) is the 11th letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 30. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Lamedh . Letters that arose from Lambda include the Roman L and the Cyrillic letter El (Л, л).

Symbol

Upper-case letter Λ

The lambda particles in particle physics.
The set of logical axioms in the axiomatic method of logical deduction in first-order logic.
The cosmological constant.
Used as a shield pattern by the Spartan army; it stood for Lakedaimon, the name of the region.
The von Mangoldt function in number theory.
In statistics, Wilk's lambda is used in multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to compare group means on a combination of dependent variables.

Lower-case letter λ

A unit of measure of volume (symbol λ) equal to one micro litre (1 μL) or one cubic milli metre (1 mm³). This now-rare use is deprecated by the SI.
The wavelength of a wave in physics
The radioactive decay constant (Connected to Half-life of a radioactive isotope in physics)
The lambda phage virus in biology
Eigenvalues in linear algebra
Goodman & Kruskal's lambda is a statistic which gives the proportional reduction in error when one variable's values are used to predict the values of another variable.
Function expressions in lambda calculus and, by extension, some programming languages
Gay pride (explanations for this usage vary) and as a gay signifier, such as the Lambda Literary Award
* Said to signify unity under oppression, explaining its use in Half-Life and the Gay Rights movement
stoichiometric fuel to air ratio oxygen sensor in an internal combustion engine's exhaust gas
A Japanese rocket type, Lambda (rocket)

Lambda the word

In anatomy, the lambda is that point on the skull where the two parietal bones and the occipital bone come together. The configuration of the sutures resembles an upper case lambda, and the suture between each parietal bone and the occipital bone is called the lambdoid suture.
The language Unlambda is a functional programming language based upon combinatory logic, a simplification of the lambda calculus that does not involve the lambda at all, hence the un- prefix.
Guy Steele, both alone and with Gerald Sussman (the two co-inventors of the Scheme programming language), wrote a series of papers beginning with the title "Lambda, the ultimate" [link]. The programming website Lambda the Ultimate[link] derives its name from these papers.
Lambda is used in art and photography to refer to a digital Type C print or the equipment used to produce it.

Lambda in pop culture

The popular science fiction universe of Star Wars uses a transport vehicle known as the Lambda-class shuttle
The Disney movie [[Atlantis: The Lost Empire]] uses lambda in place of the letter A in its title.
In the popular games Half-Life and Half-Life 2, lambda is the logo of the Lambda Complex, part of the Black Mesa Research Facility which contains teleportation technology, and later in the story the character is the symbol of the human Resistance against the Combine alien empire. The Lambda character inside a ring is also the logo of these games and the Lambda is sometimes used replacing the a in spelling Half-Life.
As a bonus following the conclusion of the X-DAY manga, by Mizushiro Setona, the second book features a short tale entitled "The Last Supper." Its protagonist is a cow, genetically modified to have more human features, Lambda 26. The lambda character is tattooed on the outside of his right forearm.
GM Lambda platform, a crossover SUV automobile platform from General Motors
The name of the Nerds' fraternity in Revenge of the Nerds film series was Lambda Lambda Lambda, or "the Tri-Lambs." The logo consisted of three capital Lambda letters inside a triangle.
In the popular anime series Full Metal Panic! the mechs known as Arm Slaves have a device called a Lambda Driver which can manifest their mental power as an indestructible barrier.
In the original Sailor Moon Manga, the finally included a scout who claimed to have the ultimate "Lambda Power"
Is the one of the main antagonists in [[Wild Arms: The 4th Detonator]].
Replaces the letter A in the logo of Angels and Airwaves.
In the video game Skies of Arcadia, the character Aika uses an attack known as Lambda Burst.

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