The University of British Columbia - Department of Physics and Astronomy

GREEK

Symbols:     T_EX   |   Roman   |   Math

Web version by Jess H. Brewer

Greek characters commonly used in Physics:

(Not all usages are shown.)

Capital Greek letters that look Roman are omitted.

$\alpha$    fine structure constant; an angle.
$\beta$    v/c; an angle; $1/k_{_{\rm B}} T$.
$\Gamma$    torque; a rate.
$\gamma$    E/mc²; an angle.
$\Delta$    "change in . . . ", as in $\Delta x$.
$\delta$    an infinitesimal; like $\Delta$ but smaller.
$\epsilon$    an infinitesimal quantity; permittivity
$\varepsilon$    a small energy.
$\zeta$    a general parameter.
$\eta$    index of refraction; a meson.
$\Theta$    an angle; Debye temperature.
$\theta$    an angle (most common symbol).
$\kappa$    dielectric constant; thermal conductivity.
$\Lambda$    a rate; a type of baryon.
$\lambda$    wavelength; a rate; linear density.
$\mu$    reduced mass; a mu lepton (muon).
$\nu$    frequency in cycles/s (Hz); neutrino.
$\Xi$    a type of baryon.
$\xi$    a general parameter; coherence length.
$\Pi$    product operator.
$\pi$    3.14159$\cdots$ ; a pi meson (pion).
$\rho$    density per unit volume; resistivity.
$\Sigma$    summation operator.
$\sigma$    cross section; areal density; conductivity.
$\tau$    a mean lifetime; time; $k_{_{\rm B}} T$; tau lepton.
$\Upsilon$    an elementary particle.
$\upsilon$    rarely used (looks like v).
$\Phi$    a wave function; an angle.
$\phi$    an angle; a wave function.
$\varphi$    electrostatic potential.
$\chi$    susceptibility.
$\Psi$    a wave function.
$\psi$    a wave function.
$\Omega$    solid angle; angular frequency; a baryon.
$\omega$    angular frequency (radians/s); a meson.

The Greek alphabet:

UPPER CASE			lower case
Alpha	A		alpha	$\alpha$
Beta	B		beta	$\beta$
Gamma	$\Gamma$		gamma	$\gamma$
Delta	$\Delta$		delta	$\delta$
Epsilon	E		epsilon	$\epsilon$
Zeta	Z		zeta	$\zeta$
Eta	H		eta	$\eta$
Theta	$\Theta$		theta	$\theta$
Iota	I		iota	$\iota$
Kappa	K		kappa	$\kappa$
Lambda	$\Lambda$		lambda	$\lambda$
Mu	M		mu	$\mu$
Nu	N		nu	$\nu$
Xi	$\Xi$		xi	$\xi$
Omicron	O		omicron	o
Pi	$\Pi$		pi	$\pi$
Rho	R		rho	$\rho$
Sigma	$\Sigma$		sigma	$\sigma$
Tau	T		tau	$\tau$
Upsilon	$\Upsilon$		upsilon	$\upsilon$
Phi	$\Phi$		phi	$\phi$
Chi	X		chi	$\chi$
Psi	$\Psi$		psi	$\psi$
Omega	$\Omega$		omega	$\omega$