Lambda

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Look up Λ, λ in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Greek alphabet

Α α Alpha	Ν ν Nu
Β β Beta	Ξ ξ Xi
Γ γ Gamma	Ο ο Omicron
Δ δ Delta	Π π Pi
Ε ε Epsilon	Ρ ρ Rho
Ζ ζ Zeta	Σ σ ς Sigma
Η η Eta	Τ τ Tau
Θ θ Theta	Υ υ Upsilon
Ι ι Iota	Φ φ Phi
Κ κ Kappa	Χ χ Chi
Λ λ Lambda	Ψ ψ Psi
Μ μ Mu	Ω ω Omega
Obsolete letters
Ϝ ϝ Digamma	Ϻ ϻ San
Ϙ ϙ Qoppa	Ϡ ϡ Sampi
Ϛ ϛ Stigma	Ϸ ϸ Sho

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. Letters that arose from Lambda include the Roman L and the Cyrillic letter El (Л, л).

1 Symbol
2 Lambda in popular culture
3 References

[edit] Symbol

[edit] 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.
In spectral decomposition of matrices, a diagonal matrix of eigenvalues of the decomposed matrix.
In Astronomy as the Planetary discriminant. Used in determination of "Clearing the neighbourhood".

[edit] Lower-case letter λ

A non-SI 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.
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
In computer science, the empty string, though different writers use a variety of other symbols for the empty string as well, including the lower case Greek letter epsilon.
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
Said to signify unity under oppression, explaining its use in the video game Half-Life
stoichiometric air to fuel ratio oxygen sensor in an internal combustion engine's exhaust gas
A Japanese rocket type, Lambda (rocket)
The failure rate in hours (also the reciprocal of MTBF) in reliability theory.
In criminology, the individual offending frequency.

[edit] 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" [1]. The programming website Lambda the Ultimate [2] 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.

[edit] Lambda in popular culture

The popular science fiction universe of Star Wars uses a transport vehicle known as the Lambda-class shuttle that when viewed forward has the shape of the lambda.
Lambda is occasionally used in graphic design to replace capital A's. Examples include the Disney movie Atlantis: The Lost Empire and the logo of the band Angels and Airwaves.

Image:Capital Lambda.svg

The lowercase lambda is a symbol collectively representing the LGBT social movements for civil rights.<ref>Lambda flags (gay pride) (2006-11-04). Retrieved on 2006-11-21.</ref>
In the popular games Half-Life and with a "2" superscript in 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 upper-case a in spelling Half-Life. The main character's outfit sometimes includes a Lambda on his chest.
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! A very select few Armslaves possess the device called the Lambda Driver which can manifest emotional thought patterns into raw physical(and sometimes destructive) power. In FMP!(primary series) Sousuke Sagara's ARX-7 "Arbalest" has a Lambda Driver(but due to Sagara's lack of experience with it only served to aid him most minimally and improved as time progressed). All oppositions Sousuke has faced where his enemy has used the Lambda Driver also exhibited great power, especially Gauron on three counts; and were all defeated using Arbalest's Lambda Driver.
In the Sailor Moon manga, the character Sailor Cosmos claimed to have the ultimate "Lambda Power."
Is the one of the main antagonists in Wild Arms: The 4th Detonator.