Lambda

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
Digamma	San
Qoppa	Sampi
Ϛ ϛ Stigma	Sho

Lambda (upper case Λ, lower case λ) is the 11th letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 30.

In art and photography, a lambda-print is a positive image, usually a photograph, executed on photographic (light-sensitive) paper using a dedicated laser printer (e. g. Durst Lambda or Océ LightJet), - Durst AG Italy were the first company to develop this digital imaging technology in 1995 - as opposed to a C-type or an inkjet print. Thus the phrase lambda print has entered the vocabulary. The Lambda was named so due to it being the unit of light wavelength.

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
• The capital lambda was used as a shield pattern by the Spartan army; it stood for Lakedaimon, the name of the region.
• Lambda Lambda Lambda is the name of a fictional fraternity in the movie Revenge of the Nerds.
• The von Mangoldt function in number theory.

Lower-case letter λ

• A unit of measure of volume (symbol λ) equal to one microlitre (1 μL) or one cubic millimetre (1 mm³)
• 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
• Function expressions in lambda calculus and, by extension, some programming languages
  • 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.
• Gay pride (explanations for this usage vary) and as a gay signifier, such as the Lambda Literary Award
• stoichiometric fuel to air ratio oxygen sensor in an internal combustion engine's exhaust gas
• A Japanese rocket type, Lambda (rocket)
• The Lambda is said to signify Unity under Oppression, explaining it's use in Half-Life and the Gay Rights movement

Lambda in pop culture

• The popular science fiction movie 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 teleporter 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 the also logo of these games.
• 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 The 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.

The content of this page is retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda under GFDL