Mathematical physics Definition and 250 Threads

Or in other words: The renormalization group is a systematic theoretical framework and a set of elegant (and often effective) mathematical techniques to build effective field theories, valid at large scales, by smoothing out irrelevant fluctuations at smaller scales. But does the...

Studying QFT on curved spacetimes I've found the algebraic approach, based on ##\ast##-algebras. In that setting, a quantum system has one associated ##\ast##-algebra ##\mathscr{A}## generated by its observables. Here we have the algebraic states. These are defined as linear functionals...

Hey. Undergrad UK Chemical Physics student here. Looking for some advice when it comes to sorting out my degree path. First however. Some background info for those unaware with the degree 'system' in the United Kingdom: Most Universities in the UK have you apply for degree programs through...

Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Line integral of a curve ## I = \int_{ }^{ } yz dx + \int_{ }^{ } zx dy + \int_{ }^{ } xy dz ## with proper limits. ## I = \int_{\frac { \pi }4}^{ \frac { 3 \pi} 4} abc ( \cos^2 t - \sin^2 t ) dt = -abc ## |I| = abc...

Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution For the homogeneous equation, I have got the the root of the characteristic equation as ## e^{ix}, e^{-ix} ## . So, the corresponding solution is ## B \sin{ x} + A \cos{ x} ## . Then, I took the particular solution as...

Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution ## \sinh (x) ## is continuous. ## \sin{( \sinh (x))} ## should have the same amplitude. ...(1) Option (a) and (b) follow this condition. For x = 0, ## \sin ({ \sinh (x)} ) ## = 0. ...(2) Option (a ) follows...

Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution [/B] Det( ## e^A ## ) = ## e^{(trace A)} ## ## trace(A) = trace( SAS^{-1}) = 0 ## as trace is similiarity invariant. Det( ## e^A ## ) = 1 The answer is option (a). Is this correct? But in the question, it is not...

I came across this beautiful pearl https://arxiv.org/abs/1710.02105 https://arxiv.org/pdf/1710.02105.pdf which I like to bring to notice. Despite of its title it is heavier on theoretical physics than it is on mathematics, so I placed it in this forum. I think it is equally interesting to those...

Hello. I will be attending a course on Group theory and the book that the professor suggests is Georgi's Lie Algebras in Particle Physics. As I liked Zee's book on General Relativity, I thought that it would be a blast to also use his Group theory textbook for the course. Problem is that I don't...

Hello, I was wondering if you could give me some advice on what master’s degree or which specific master courses I should take. I am a physics student and I am going to finish my bachelor in physics next year. I plan to do a master in theoretical physics or in mathematical physics. However I...

Okay, I have a good friend and he is into the idea of becoming a Mathematical Physicist; however, there's several issues at hand. He's in his mid 20's and attends a really cheap community college. Apparently his high school was horrible at teaching students good material; in other words, he...

I'm a rising physics sophomore at a Japanese university. I've studied general physics, linear algebra, and analysis (actually, calculus of single and several variables with emphasis on analysis, everything was proven and the theoretical background was well explained) Other than that, I've...

Hello! I'm a European physics student with an interest in what I believe to be mathematical physics. I'm torn between going for a master in physics or one in mathematics as more and more it seems to me that the research areas I'm interest are often conducted in the mathematics department...

Hello, I'm seriously considering switching degrees to Physics, however I'm not sure whether I should be taking mathematical physics or standard physics (my School has both as separate programs). Which one would you say has better prospects later on? I am planning on getting a Ph.D in this...

Have members of the community had the experience of being taught GR both from a mathematical and physics perspective? I am a trained mathematician ( whatever that means - I still struggle with integral equations :) ) but I have always been drawn to applied mathematical physics subjects and much...

I recently completed my honours degree in Australia (4-year undergraduate with a year-long thesis and some grad-level subjects such as first courses in algebraic geometry, algebraic topology, GR, QFT and integrable systems) and am struggling to figure out what the best option for graduate study...

I just found and bought this book on a whim. I have just glanced through it and have not started reading it seriously yet. I think it is a fascinating book. Have any here read this book? If so, what do you think? https://www.amazon.com/dp/1441921680/?tag=pfamazon01-20 (amazon link)...

Hi there! So for about a month, I've been self-studying mathematical physics using Mathematical Physics by Hassani. It's a big change for me, after only Stewart calculus, Boyce DE and some linear algebra course, but it's been loads of fun! Now, writing proofs is something fairly new to me, and...

I'm taking mathematical physics and mechanics 1 next semester. What do you recommend to prepare? I've taken Calc 1-3, ODE, and (half) a semester of linear algebra. I dropped Linear Algebra midway through this semester because I wasn't prepared to take so many courses while working. Anyway, what...

Hello, I have a question about the the difference between mathematical physics and theoretical physics in general and about the difference between the MSc Theoretical and Mathematical Physics courses at Edinburgh in particular. I am planning to apply, however I am not sure which of the two...

Hi, I like mathematical physics and experimental physics, is it possible to change from one to another of these fields after earning PhD from one of them? Thanks

Which is more mathematical among The Princeton Companion to Applied Mathematics and Mathematics for Physics by Michael Stone and Paul Goldbart? Both of them are applied mathematics books. What are the main differences between them? Which is more mathematical i.e. mathematically advanced...

Dear Friends, Could you suggest me some good textbooks in the mathematical physics that I can use for both studying and reference? I am currently reading Landau/Lifshitz' trilogy along with couple other books (Weinberg for gravity, Arnold, etc) in different branches of physics, and I need to...

Hi, I am currently applying to university and am an aspiring Theoretical Physicist. I see many different courses but the two I am not sure on are Mathematical Physics and Theoretical Physics. I was wondering what would give me a better foundation to go on to be a Theoretical Physicist, thank...

I have learned a lot from reading Sadri Hassani's book "Mathematical Physics", and have also had many frustrations with it. On the one hand, it covers both the classical and the modern methods of mathematical physics, a huge amount of material and at a good level. On the other, it sometimes...

Hello, what are some good books to learn group theory for physicists at an undergraduate level? Is Zee's Group Theory in a Nutshell good? Thanks in advance

I like physics because of the formulas, explaining nature in terms of maths (I love math), I love problem solving and it's just so diverse. You learn about subjects from materials to astronomy it's just learning about how stuff works. So topics I like: Kinematics Any mechanics Electricity...

Hi, I would like to know what universities are good at Mathematical Physics for pursuing masters/phds, both in America and Europe. Thanks in advance

Hello, i want to get a mathematics book for physicists, and i have stumbled across some good books, but as i have not read them yet, i can't really decide which one to buy. So, which one do you prefer and why? Also, do you have any other book to recommend? Thanks!

Hello all, I've done an MSc in Physics alongwith a BE in Electronics Engg, graduating in 2014. My scores are quite poor (GPA: 6.23/10), but I am interested in doctoral studies in Mathematical Physics. I wrote exams for PhD admissions here in India for this year but did not fare well enough for...

Hello, I've read a few of the responses in the guidance section on this site and had some conversations with guidance personnel at my college, but I was hoping to get some other, potentially more objective insights from the group here. I will be 34 this year and am currently a sophomore at a...

Homework Statement Find the scalar product of diracs delta function ##\delta(\bar{x})## and the bessel function ##J_0## in polar coordinates. I need to do this since I want the orthogonal projection of some function onto the Bessel function and this is a key step towards that solution. I only...

What are some of the top graduate programs in Europe (excluding the UK) on theoretical physics specializing in string theory, fields or mathematical physics?

Hello, i am currently enrolled in a Mathematics course which covers these subjects: -Calculus of Variations -Laplace Transform -Fourier Analysis -Special Functions -Integral Equations And as an introduction to the subject it has several things from calculus like maxima/minima of functions of...

Hello!can someone propose a good textbook for quantum mechanics and mathematical physics(including green function)?I would like to buy those books so i want something which is one of the best to have in your libraby!

Hello I am a 52 year old practical engineer.

Legendre functions $Q_n(x)$ of the second kind \begin{equation*} Q_n(x)=P_n(x) \int \frac{1}{(1-x^2)\cdot P_n^2(x)}\, \mathrm{d}x \end{equation*} what to do after this step? how can I complete ? I need to reach this formula \begin{equation*} Q_n(x)=\frac{1}{2} P_n(x)\ln\left( \frac{...

Homework Statement A determinant a is defined in the following manner ar * Ak = Σns=1 ars Aks = δkr a , where a=det(aij), ar , Ak , are rows of the coefficient matrix and cofactor matrix respectively. The second term in the equation is the expansion over the columns of both matrices, δkr is...

I am looking for a short pedagogical introduction to Young-tableaux and weight diagrams and the relationship between them, which contains many detailled and worked out examples of how these methods are applied in physics, such as in the context of the standard model and beyond for example. I am...

Hello, my name is Israel and I have a B.A. in physics from California State University Stanislaus. I graduated in 2011 in the worst economy ever and in the worst part of the U.S. to be hit by the great recession. I have substitute taught in every subject in K-12, but I am looking to get into the...

What are some rigorous theoretical books on mathematics for each branch of it? I have devised a fantastic list of my own and would like to hear your sentiments too. Elementary Algebra: Gelfand's Algebra Gelfand's Functions & Graphs Burnside's Theory of Equations Euler's Analysis of the...

Hey everyone, I just got my admission from the following programs: MSc Mathematical Physics --Edinburgh MSc Theoretical Physics -- Durham MSc Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces -- IC I have a BSc in Mathematical Science, and I wish to continue a Phd study in particle physics and cosmology...

Dear forum members, This is my first post on Physics Forums. I'm very happy to have found this place and to be a member. My question isn't very complicated. I'm a math major with a reasonable grasp of the standard undergraduate analysis curriculum (including differential equations and complex...

Hello, could you please give me an insight on how to get through this proof involving operators? Proof: Given an eigenvalue-eigenvector equation, suppose that the vectorstate depends on an external parameter, e.g. time, and that over it acts an operator that is the fourth derivative w.r.t...

Hello! I'm looking to study Mary Boas' Book on mathematical methods and i'd like to know if the prerequisites can be covered in ocw mit courses or any other open courses. Please do suggest if any. Also are there any parallels that can be drawn with the ocw mit courses for the various topics...

I have a master's in physics. I'm looking at PhD programs, but I really don't want to take the same courses over and take comprehensive exams (or the damn GRE). I managed to squeeze in a few math classes before I finished. I would like to do research in physics, but from a more math-heavy...

First, two definitions: let ## \varrho (M)## be the probability density of macro states ##M ## (which correspond to a subgroup of the phase space) and ## \mathrm{d} \Gamma ## be the volume element of a phase space. In my lecture notes, the derivation for continuity equation of probability...

Hello PF, pardon me if this isn't the wrong place but I just had a quick question. So I have always wanted to do Theoretical Physics (particular interests are Quantum Gravity, Cosmology, QFT and Quantum Optics, but those are subject to change), but recently I have started to look into...

Hello! I'm in my final high school year (Bachillerato, as we call it in Spain) and I have to choose between getting a degree in physics or mathematics. Frankly, my uni's approach to physics is far more experimental than theoretical. I do not like that (lol). I love mathematics, and just reading...

For a system consisting of multiple components, say, a spin chain consisting ofN≥3spins, people sometimes use the so-called geometric measure of entanglement. It is related to the inner product between the wave function and a simple tensor product wave function. But it seems that none used this...