spectrum A spectrum (plural ''spectra'' or ''spectrums'') is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary, without gaps, across a continuum. The word was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of colors i ...

is a condition or value that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary infinitely within a continuum. Spectrum may also refer to:

Science and technology

Physics

Continuous spectrum In physics, a continuous spectrum usually means a set of attainable values for some physical quantity (such as energy or wavelength) that is best described as an interval of real numbers, as opposed to a discrete spectrum, a set of attainable ...

, of any physical quantity that can change smoothly * Discrete spectrum *

Electromagnetic spectrum The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of frequencies (the spectrum) of electromagnetic radiation and their respective wavelengths and photon energies. The electromagnetic spectrum covers electromagnetic waves with frequencies ranging from ...

Visible spectrum The visible spectrum is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visual perception, visible to the human eye. Electromagnetic radiation in this range of wavelengths is called ''visible light'' or simply light. A typical human eye wil ...

or optical spectrum, a subset of the electromagnetic spectrum **

Emission spectrum The emission spectrum of a chemical element or chemical compound is the spectrum of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation emitted due to an electron making a atomic electron transition, transition from a high energy state to a lower energy st ...

, observed in light **

Absorption spectrum Absorption spectroscopy refers to spectroscopic techniques that measure the absorption of radiation, as a function of frequency or wavelength, due to its interaction with a sample. The sample absorbs energy, i.e., photons, from the radiating f ...

, observed in light **

Radio spectrum The radio spectrum is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum with frequencies from 0 Hz to 3,000 GHz (3 THz). Electromagnetic waves in this frequency range, called radio waves, are widely used in modern technology, particula ...

, radio frequency subset of the electromagnetic spectrum **

Stellar spectrum Astronomical spectroscopy is the study of astronomy using the techniques of spectroscopy to measure the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, ultraviolet, X-ray, infrared and radio waves that radiate from stars and othe ...

, the combination of continuum, absorption, and emission lines produced by a star * Energy spectrum, of a collection of particles (particle physics) * Frequency spectrum, of a signal * Power spectrum, of a signal

Medicine

Spectrum disorder A spectrum disorder is a mental disorder that includes a range of linked conditions, sometimes also extending to include singular symptoms and traits. The different elements of a spectrum either have a similar appearance or are thought to be cause ...

, a group of mental disorders of similar appearance or thought to share an underlying mechanism **

Autism spectrum The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) characterized by difficulti ...

, encompassing autism, Asperger's, etc. *

Antimicrobial spectrum The antimicrobial spectrum of an antibiotic means the range of microorganisms it can kill or inhibit. Antibiotics can be divided into broad-spectrum antibiotics, extended-spectrum antibiotics and narrow-spectrum antibiotics based on their spectrum ...

, the range of microorganisms an antibiotic can kill or inhibit

Mathematics

In mathematics, spectrum frequently denotes a set of numbers associated to an object: *

Spectrum of a matrix In mathematics, the spectrum of a matrix is the set of its eigenvalues. More generally, if T\colon V \to V is a linear operator on any finite-dimensional vector space, its spectrum is the set of scalars \lambda such that T-\lambda I is not invertib ...

, its set of eigenvalues, in linear algebra ** Spectrum (functional analysis), a generalization of the concept of matrix eigenvalues to operators ** Spectrum of a graph, studied in

spectral graph theory In mathematics, spectral graph theory is the study of the properties of a graph in relationship to the characteristic polynomial, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors of matrices associated with the graph, such as its adjacency matrix or Laplacian matrix ...

Pseudospectrum In mathematics, the pseudospectrum of an operator is a set containing the spectrum of the operator and the numbers that are "almost" eigenvalues. Knowledge of the pseudospectrum can be particularly useful for understanding non-normal operators a ...

Spectrum of a polygon In geometry, an equidissection is a partition of a polygon into triangles of equal area. The study of equidissections began in the late 1960s with Monsky's theorem, which states that a square cannot be equidissected into an odd number of triang ...

, the set of numbers of possible equidissections *

Spectrum of a sentence In mathematical logic, the spectrum of a sentence is the set of natural numbers occurring as the size of a finite model in which a given sentence is true. Definition Let ''ψ'' be a sentence in first-order logic. The ''spectrum'' of ''ψ'' is t ...

, in mathematical logic *

Spectrum of a theory In model theory, a branch of mathematical logic, the spectrum of a theory is given by the number of isomorphism classes of models in various cardinalities. More precisely, for any complete theory ''T'' in a language we write ''I''(''T'', ''κ'') ...

, in mathematical logic There are also several other, unrelated meanings: *

Spectrum (topology) In algebraic topology, a branch of mathematics, a spectrum is an object representable functor, representing a Cohomology#Generalized cohomology theories, generalized cohomology theory. Every such cohomology theory is representable, as follows from B ...

, the fundamental object of study in

stable homotopy theory In mathematics, stable homotopy theory is the part of homotopy theory (and thus algebraic topology) concerned with all structure and phenomena that remain after sufficiently many applications of the suspension functor. A founding result was the F ...

Spectrum of a C*-algebra In mathematics, the spectrum of a C*-algebra or dual of a C*-algebra ''A'', denoted ''Â'', is the set of unitary equivalence classes of irreducible *-representations of ''A''. A *-representation π of ''A'' on a Hilbert space ''H'' is irreducibl ...

, a kind of dual object *

Spectrum of a ring In commutative algebra, the prime spectrum (or simply the spectrum) of a ring ''R'' is the set of all prime ideals of ''R'', and is usually denoted by \operatorname; in algebraic geometry it is simultaneously a topological space equipped with the ...

, the set of its

prime ideal In algebra, a prime ideal is a subset of a ring that shares many important properties of a prime number in the ring of integers. The prime ideals for the integers are the sets that contain all the multiples of a given prime number, together with ...

s, in commutative algebra

Arts and entertainment

Spectrum (brand) Spectrum is a trade name of Charter Communications, used to market consumer and commercial cable television, internet, telephone, and wireless services provided by the company. The brand was first introduced in 2014; prior to that, these serv ...

, a brand name used by Charter Communications for their telecommunication services, including: ** Spectrum News, a group of six cable news channels **

Spectrum Sports Spectrum Sports (abbreviated as SPECTSN), also known under the corporate names Spectrum Networks, or Charter Sports Regional Networks, is the collective name for a group of regional sports networks in the United States that are primarily owned a ...

, a group of nine regional sports networks in the US **

Spectrum TV Stream Spectrum TV Stream is an American over-the-top internet television service owned by Charter Communications. The service – which is structured as a virtual multichannel video programming distributor – is only available to Charter Spectrum in ...

, a streaming service

Publications

* '' IEEE Spectrum'', a magazine by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers * ''Spectrum'' (magazine), an independent Seventh-day Adventist magazine * ''Spectrum'' (newspaper), a defunct Toledo, Ohio weekly newspaper * ''Spectrum'', a news website published by the

Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative The Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, or SFARI for short, is a research program established in 2005 by the Simons Foundation The Simons Foundation is a private foundation established in 1994 by Marilyn and Jim Simons with offices ...

* ''The Spectrum'' (Utah), also known as ''The Spectrum & Daily News'', a Gannett newspaper in St. George, Utah * ''Spectrum'' (novel), a 2002 novel by Russian author Sergey Lukyanenko * ''Spectrum'', a magazine published with ''

Scotland on Sunday ''Scotland on Sunday'' is a Scottish Sunday newspaper, published in Edinburgh by JPIMedia and consequently assuming the role of Sunday sister to its daily stablemate ''The Scotsman''. It was originally printed in broadsheet format but in 2013 ...

'' * ''Spectrum'', a liftout in ''

The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...

Student newspapers

* ''The Spectrum'' (USLS), the student newspaper of the University of St. La Salle in the Philippines * ''The Spectrum'' (NDSU), the student newspaper of the North Dakota State University in the United States * ''The Spectrum'' (University at Buffalo), the student newspaper of the State University of New York at Buffalo

Television

Spectrum (TV channel) Spectrum was an American subscription television channel that was owned and operated by United Cable. Existing during the early 1980s, the service was available in the Chicago and Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan areas. United Cable, which ...

, a defunct Chicago-area pay television broadcaster founded by United Cable * ''Spectrum'' (TV series), a 1958 Canadian television series * ''Spectrum'' (radio program), a daily broadcast series on CBS Radio, c. 1970–1992

Music

* Spectrum (band), an Australian group of the 1970s led by Mike Rudd *

Spectrum (group) Spectrum (스펙트럼) was a South Korean boy band A boy band is loosely defined as a vocal group consisting of young male singers, usually in their teenage years or in their twenties at the time of formation. Generally, boy bands perform ...

, a South Korean boy group formed in 2018 * Spectrum, a British band lead by Peter Kember * Spectrum, a bluegrass band that included Béla Fleck and Jimmy Gaudreau * Spectrum (The Carpenters), 1960s jazz band led by Richard and Karen Carpenter * ''Spectrum'' (Billy Cobham album), debut album of fusion drummer Billy Cobham * ''Spectrum'' (Cedar Walton album), the second album by jazz pianist Cedar Walton * ''Spectrum'' (Jega album), debut album of electronic musician Jega * ''Spectrum'' (Steve Howe album), 2005 * ''Spectrum'' (Illinois Jacquet album), 1965 * ''Spectrum'' (Westlife album), 2019 * "

Spectrum (Say My Name) "Spectrum" is a song by English indie rock band Florence and the Machine from their second studio album '' Ceremonials'' (2011). It was written by lead singer Florence Welch and Paul Epworth with production being handled by Epworth. The band ...

", a 2012 song by British indie rock band Florence and the Machine * "Spectrum" (Zedd song), a 2012 song by German electronic dance music producer Zedd; also covered by SM The Performance * ''The Spectrum'' (Sirius XM), a music channel on Sirius Satellite Radio * The Spectrum (1964–1970), a London-based pop group coincidentally providing the closing theme for the spectrum-themed TV show '' Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons'' * ''The Spectrum'' (album), of 2017 by Daley * ''Spectrum'' (Hiromi album), 2019

Other arts and entertainment

* ''Spectrum'', a news website founded by the

Monica Rambeau Monica Rambeau is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roger Stern and artist John Romita Jr., the character debuted in ''The Amazing Spider-Man Annual'' #16 (October 1982). Monica w ...

, a Marvel Comics character who uses the name ''Spectrum'' * Spectrum, the worldwide security organisation in the 1960s TV series '' Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons'' * Gaylactic Spectrum Awards or Spectrums, a literary award * Spectrum Award, in fantasy, science fiction, and horror artwork

Buildings and structures

Spectrum (Montreal) The Spectrum (French: Le Spectrum de Montréal) was a concert hall, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, that closed on August 5, 2007. Opened on October 17, 1952, as the ''Alouette Theatre'', it was briefly renamed ''Club Montreal'' before receiving its ...

, a defunct concert venue in Canada * Spectrum London, an art gallery in England *

Guildford Spectrum Guildford Spectrum is a leisure complex in Guildford, Surrey, England. Owned by Guildford Borough Council, it was opened on 23 February 1993 at a cost of £28 million. It is the home of ice hockey teams the Guildford Flames and the Guildford Pho ...

, a leisure complex in Guildford, England *

Smith Spectrum The Dee Glen Smith Spectrum is a 10,270-seat multi-purpose arena in the western United States, located on the campus of Utah State University in Logan, Utah. Best known as the home of the Utah State Aggies men's and the women's basketball teams ...

, a sports arena in Logan, Utah, US * Spectrum (arena), a former arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US * Northlands Spectrum, later known as

Northlands Park Northlands Park was the "Alberta A circuit" horse racing track at Northlands in Edmonton, Alberta. The horse racing season generally consisted of a spring harness (Standardbred) meet from February/March, a Thoroughbred meet from May/June to Sep ...

, a horse racing track in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Organizations

Spectrum Aircraft Spectrum Aircraft was a Canadian ultralight aircraft manufacturer that commenced operations in 1983 and went out of business in 1992. The company was known for its Beaver ultralight design, which remains in production by successor companies in ...

, a Canadian ultralight aircraft manufacturer *

Spectrum Aeronautical Spectrum Aeronautical is a business jet developer based in Carlsbad, California with its development center located in Spanish Fork, Utah. An engine failure while flying a single-engine Stinson Voyager over the jungles of Honduras in 1958 nearly ...

, a US-based manufacturer of very light jets *

Spectrum Animation Spectrum Animation was an animation studio in Japan, made up of former TMS Entertainment employees. Spectrum animated several episodes of '' Batman: The Animated Series''. On the commentary track for " Heart of Ice" on the ''Batman: The Animated ...

, a defunct Japanese animation studio * Spectrum Brands, an American home-essentials company *

Het Spectrum Uitgeverij Lannoo Groep is a Belgian publishing group, based in Tielt, with assets in Belgium and the Netherlands. Its Belgian subsidiary is Uitgeverij Lannoo. Its Dutch subsidiary is LannooMeulenhoff. Over the years Lannoo evolved from Catholic ...

, a Dutch publishing company *

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Spectrum Pharmaceuticals is an American biopharmaceutical company. The company is located in Boston, MA. Drugs Spectrum develops and markets drugs for treatments in hematology and oncology. In January 2019, Spectrum sold off its entire comme ...

, an American biopharmaceutical company * Spectrum (Amsterdam) (formerly Librije's Zusje), Michelin-starred restaurant in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Products

* Spectrum (racing car), a series of Australian open wheel racing cars manufactured by Borland Racing Developments * Chevy Spectrum, a North American car also sold as the Geo Spectrum *

ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer that was developed by Sinclair Research. It was released in the United Kingdom on 23 April 1982, and became Britain's best-selling microcomputer. Referred to during development as t ...

, an early British home computer by Sinclair * Spectrum, a brand of printer paper owned by

Georgia-Pacific Georgia-Pacific LLC is an American pulp and paper company based in Atlanta, Georgia, and is one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of tissue, pulp, paper, toilet and paper towel dispensers, packaging, building products and r ...

Other uses

Economic spectrum A social class is a grouping of people into a set of hierarchical social categories, the most common being the upper, middle and lower classes. Membership in a social class can for example be dependent on education, wealth, occupation, inco ...

, disparities between social classes * Political spectrum, of opinion *

Spectrum Range The Spectrum Range, formerly called the Spectrum Mountains and the Rainbow Mountains, is a subrange of the Tahltan Highland in the Stikine Country of northwestern British Columbia, 20 km west of the Stewart-Cassiar Highway, south of Mount ...

, a mountain range in British Columbia, Canada *

Spectrum (horse) Spectrum (8 May 1992 – 25 May 2020) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse and sire (horse), sire. In a racing career which lasted from October 1994 until August 1996 he ran nine times and won four races. As a t ...

, a thoroughbred racehorse * SPECTRUM Standard, a Museum Collections Management Standard developed by the Collections Trust