As nouns,
wave mechanics is a hyponym of
quantum mechanics; that is,
wave mechanics is a
word with a more specific, narrower meaning than
quantum mechanics:
- quantum mechanics: the branch of quantum physics that accounts for matter at the atomic level; an extension of statistical mechanics based on quantum theory (especially the Pauli exclusion principle)
- wave mechanics: the modern form of quantum theory; an extension of quantum mechanics based on Schrodinger's equation; atomic events are explained as interactions between particle waves