Theoretical physics Definition and 551 Threads

Hello! What can a first year PhD student (in an American university) do, research related, in the field of Theoretical (mainly high-energy) physics? I know in the USA you need to start research from the first semester of PhD (even if you formally choose a definite field of research at the end of...

Considering one is taking all the required math courses for a typical physics degree, what math electives are most crucial to the field of cosmology/theoretical astrophysics? Also, is it true that mathematical modeling courses(discrete and dynamical modeling across physics) are more important to...

Hello! Is there a book (any kind of written collection) about mathematical tricks for complex problems (in both math and theoretical physics). Over time I have encountered several nice and impressive tricks to simplify apparently difficult problems and I was wondering if someone gathered them in...

Hello. I'm currently studying theoretical physics and planning to continue my study in theoretical physics. I know that there are two interesting places to pursue the education in this field, the International Center for Theoretical Physics (pre-PhD program), and the Perimeter Institute for...

Theoretical Physics should belong in the math department to then collaborate with the physics department on new mathematical theories within physics. I can't accept that theoretical physics could really be considered a branch of just physics. I can only see theoretical physics being 95% math and...

I was just wondering which out of the 2 courses would be more beneficial for me as I am interested in Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Cosmology: A senior level course in Optics or a Senior Level course in Methods of Theoretical Physics (Presumably mathematical methods). Course Descriptions...

Hi all, I'm a theoretical physics hopeful, and I've had a couple of major setbacks in my undergraduate studies. I'm thinking of whether I should pursue a career in TP, or reconsider doing physics entirely. My background: I've always had an interest in Physics. I got a bronze medal from...

Hello PF, I am currently pursuing my Masters in Physics with specialisation in material science. But I am interested in quantum mechanics and want to do PhD and then research in quantum mechanics. But in today's date is it good to go for theoretical physics rather than going for some...

Hi at all, maybe it's a bit trivial. However, the question that i ask myself is ; that relation there is between statistics-probab theory & theoretical physics. What role does it play in theoretical research ? (apart from the probabilistic amplitudes encountered in qm) Thanks for the answers

On pg. 60 of Nolting Theoretical Physics 1 for the definition of a vector multiplied by a scalar the book shows two little up arrows if the scalar is greater than zero and an little up arrow and then a little down arrow if the scalar is less than zero. Then again on pg. 61 for definition 1.139...

Dear All, I am sorry if you consider this question to be repetitive or too general but I have been unable to find sufficient answers on the web and thus I want to see what I can win from asking you guys. First my situation: I finished my Physics' Bachelor in the LMU Munich with good grades...

First of all, I know it's a big field. But, currently, I don't know where exactly I would like working in it so I'm just asking like the most generalized explanation. I would probably prefer more in the theoretical part of the field (which might just be all of it [emoji23] ). A few major...

Firstly, I'm sorry if it is wrong part to start this thread. I'm new here and I can change the category if you let me know. Secondly, I want to learn something about theoretical physics. I am about to finish my study Mathematics in a semester. However, I consider to study physics either and I...

Hey there, my name's Travis, I'm a high school graduate and prospective theoretical physicist. I started my post-school learning by looking into correspondence study and got hold of some material from a friend. However, despite the fact that I love calculus and physics, I completed the 1st year...

Dear PF community, I was wondering, what do theoretical physicists actually do? Putting teaching and marking responsibilities aside, would you be able to describe to me your day-to-day activities when you do research? It is something that has been on my mind for a while. I suspect PF members...

What exactly does a theoretical physicists do? Do they come up with hypotheses, and then do calculations to see how things would work if those hypotheses were true. If that is correct, how exactly do you come up with a hypothesis? Is there a lot of creativity involved? Also, when physicists...

I'm wanted to go into theoretical astrophysics/cosmology in grad school, and I'm look for schools that will look very good to graduate admissions, and that will give me a great preparation. New College seems to have exceptional results in sending students to top grad schools according to their...

The Italian physicist Gian Francesco Giudice has come out with an article about the crisis in theoretical physics. Please read the paper before commenting. Thoughts? https://arxiv.org/abs/1710.07663

Due to circumstances outside of my control, I couldn't go to college after high school. Physics is my passion however and I refuse to give up. I have a 5 month old so it would be in my best interest to start my schooling online. I'm only the 2nd person in my family to go to college. So, I don't...

I personally am undecided on the issue but it goes without saying that physicists have been stuck on the same problems for years. Sure they recently proved gravitational waves, but one could say that we knew they were they existed anyway with near certainty, if they weren' t there it would be a...

I have finished my masters degree in cosmology and my research was on inflation, despite it being interesting, I'm not really fond of doing simulations/computations using a computer for a very long time. Don't get me wrong, I know that every physicists should know at least some computational...

Hi everyone! I am currently in the process of applying for a masters degree in theoretical physics. I am having troubles on writing the personal statement part since I really need to make it shine (200 applications and 20 places:frown:) . Any definitely do's and dont's I should bear in mind? A...

Upon reading Landau QM, the Principle of superposition of states, I got confused. It states (and i quote): "Suppose that, in a state with wave function Ψ1(q), some measurement leads with certainty to a definite result 1, while in a state with Ψ2(q) it leads to a different result 2. Then it is...

Recently, I've been struggling with this issue. I really really love theoretical physics and mathematics, but at some point, I feel like it has now become into a mix of speculation and super advanced mathematics. The fact that some physicists say some areas like String Theory or Quantum Loop...

Hi everyone, What can I do with a master's in theoretical physics and a bachelor of computer science ? I am in Canada, I had to do a master's before a PhD. I just decided to do something else than physics afterwards. I had the opportunity to do a PhD in computer science, in medical imaging...

Hey there. I am going to stay the University next year and I want to know what do you think about the three options I have actually. I really like science, and I like to know about the process of the nature, how it is defined by math and by the physical processes. It is my passion I, in the...

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...

Hello, I'm about to start my last year of bachelor degree in physics, and in a few months I would like to have a clear idea of where I want to go for my master degree. My dream since I started university is to pursue theoretical physics, in which specific field, that remains for me to...

Jack Smith, professor emeritus of physics at SUNY Stony Brook passed away Sunday. His colleague George Sterman writes " Jack Smith joined the Institute for Theoretical Physics at Stony Brook as research associate in the Institute’s second year, 1967, and he subsequently joined the faculty of...

Hi, I am finishing the grad in physics and i would like to study a master in theoretical physics the next year. Anyone know or have studied any master in theoretical physics preferably in Spain but also in other countries in Europe. I would like to know your opinion Regards

Advanced Physics (Advanced Science) by Steve Adams & Jonathan Allday from OUP Oxford: and Physics (Collins Advanced Science) 3rd Edition by Kenneth Dobson from Collins Educational: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0007267495/?tag=pfamazon01-20 Does anyone know any of these books? I find them very...

As I have come to understand it - we have no current means of directly interacting with Dark Matter. We can only observe the gravitational effects that Dark Matter has on Baryonic Matter. My question is: What forms of detection have been attempted and determined to not directly interaction...

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...

How did they figure out that particles have spin.where does spin 1/2 come in...how was that detected?

Hi, quick question. Are there any Engineering Majors that deal frequently with theoretical physics? Thank you

I am attempting to choose a field of study for my masters course following my undergraduate course however due to the circumstances of the researchers I have to choose between a better supervisor or a preferred field of study; my ideal field would be theoretical quantum computing, however the...

Hello everyone! I have been admitted in Utrecht and UvA (University of Amsterdam) for the Theoretical Physics masters. I am having a hard time deciding between the two and I was thinking that someone might have an opinion on one or the other (or even better on both). Any kind of information is...

Hello! I have one more year in undergraduate and I would like to go for a grad school in USA and do theoretical physics. I am a bit confused about particle physics. From what I saw most of the theoretical models today aim to extend the standard model and yet most of them are proved to be wrong...

Another thread reminded me of this. Sometime, probably in the 70's Suzuki said something like this, for something to be "real" it has to have a least one piece of retrievable information. One example he gave that I remember was a point in space. I remember this example because of his...

TheAdmin submitted a new PF Insights post Interview with a Theoretical Physicist: Sabine Hossenfelder Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.

Not sure where to put this discussion, so please feel free to move it... Ok, so here I go... I understand why theoretically time travel cannot exist before the moment it was created, cause one fellah would have to take one end of a wormhole on a fast ship and fly about a bit. I understand...

I apologize for perhaps seeming redundant with my post. Please forgive me, I'm looking for more specific advice orientated towards my situation. First and foremost, I am a second year student studying physics. Currently, I am also pursuing a double major in mathematics. To me it's either theory...

Hello PF, I was wondering how could someone search for a graduate school while being a theoretical physicist (expl : String theorist). I mean someone working in an applied area can search for schools with the best labs or latest technologies but not the Theoretical Physicist. Thanks.

I often read about how famous theoretical physicists have made ground-breaking contributions to physics, but I always end up wondering how they are able to "discover" something that they have never seen or experienced. I believe that it has to do with the application of mathematical theories to...

I am 19 and have always been interested in being a theoretical Physicist, but I am worried that the field seems to have a great amount of people also taking this road. I'd imagine jobs are running short in this field, do it begs the question: should I choose another path? Or do I follow the...

Hi! I want to (eventually) do PhD in theoretical physics, and although universities like MIT, Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, etc. are incredibly competitive, I was wondering if being self-funded student makes things any easier? My current situation is following: I am nearly 29 years-old student...

Hello, I will be attending an undergraduate course called "Theoretical Physics" and I want to borrow some books from the library that cover the material of this course. I would appreciate any suggestions. The syllabus of the course is the following(I will be translating so I am sorry If...

Hello everyone. So I wanted to get some opinions on what some of you thought was a better choice, as far taking PDE's or classical mechanics 2 goes. First let me start off by giving a little info; I've already taken calc 1-3 and ordinary differential equations, physics 1 & 2...

Greetings all :) I would like to know please how antiparticles fit into Garrett Lisi's E8 Theory. Thanks!

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...