Theoretical physics Definition and 551 Threads

Hi, I am just starting my studies in earnest in Physics (woo, Freshman!) and plan on eventually seeking a PhD in theoretical physics. I was wondering if there were any "cannon" works, textbooks that almost every one knows or has studied from at some point, that I should start looking at...

For next term, I was wondering if I should take a course in non-commutative algebra. As of now, I'm focusing on mathematical physics, specifically on the mathematical side of string theory; mirror symmetry and field theories. I know that commutative algebra as well as algebraic geometry are...

Having been a lurker on the site for a few months I decided to make a post concerning my current college situation. I started a theoretical physics course this year, while I am intrigued by the material, the first two years of college would be far more relaxed and I would have more time to...

I hope I do not extend myself here. I am a Brazilian High School student, graduating this year, that plans to pursue a Physics undergraduate in the United States. Since I started High School I decided on my degree; I love physics and my ultimate dream is to research the depths of the field...

Hello everyone, My name is Melissa i am a physics undergrad about to finish up my third and last year. I am facing a problem with deciding whether to continue my master's degree as a theoretical physicist or go into material science, biophysics or applied physics. Mainly the problem I'm facing...

Definitely looking to pursue graduate level theoretical physics in Quantum Mechanics. Which undergrad program would be best? Mathematical Physics, General Physics, or Astrophysics?

Hi, So what exactly does somebody who is involved in "theoretical physics" do at their job? This is not the same thing as somebody who is involved in experimental physics, right? If I understand right, theoretical physics is the stuff we learn in class. It's the theory to explain the phenomena...

Hi everyone, I 'm doing a physics degree in Imperial College london, I have a tendency to do experimental physics research in the future, however, I applied to the theoretical physics course 3 years ago, which means (a year less labs than the experimental physicists, I made this decision because...

The time I will be asked to take a subject for my graduation project and I'm searching for something in hot fields for modern physics research. Unfortunately I don't know where to look and I was hoping for some help. Any suggestion would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Hi everyone, Please refer me to a very advanced mathematical physics reference that has applications in theoretical particle physics. I have seen the book Howard Georgi in Lie Algebras in particle physics but want more advanced ones. Any ideas would be very appreciated.Paul

I'm currently looking into a career in either Astrophysics, Theoretical Physics, or Theoretical Astrophysics. What is the difference between the subject matter in each of these three fields and how would I go about attaining status of Theoretical Astrophysicist? I have found numerous majors...

I am currently enrolled at a US university as an undergrad physics major, and my interest is in theoretical particle physics/quantum mechanics. I am wondering if for the sake of theoretical physics it would be wise to dual-major in mathematics as well at the slight expense of some of the other...

Dear PFer's, I just finished reading the first chapter of Lee Smolin's famous "The Trouble with Physics". The first chapter of the book is titled "The Five Great Problems in Theoretical Physics" and is the source of the questions I want to post. I searched PF for similar posts, but I found...

Hi, I have heard from multiple sources that you need good research record to be admitted to any top grad school and most of them want recommendations from research groups, on other hand, most professors who do theory consider undergrads not to be qualified enough to help them in any manner...

Author: ZapperZ Originally posted on Mar12-14 I see that statement surprisingly often enough on the Academic Guidance forum. I also hear this often whenever I talk to high school students who are interested in doing physics, or even new undergraduate students thinking of majoring in physics...

Hello I just finished my second year at university, my major is electrical engineering.I took classical mechanics and electricity & magnetism and I really liked them.Do you think I can handle Landau and Lifschitz books on theoretical physics.I am concerned about the mathematics in the books, at...

Hello phycisists, I'm a sophomore high school student that recently finished the first grade and I have a question or two relating to physics. I have been tested by a licensed psychologist that evaluated my cognitive functions and came to the conclusion that my overall intelligence...

Hi all! Recently, I came to know about Perimeter Institute's "PSI," which is an intensive, 1 year long, coursework based program in Theoretical Physics culminating in an M.S. degree. Similarly, there is the Pre-PhD-Program offered by ICTP, Italy. I have had 2 years of Physics training...

I have a question regarding the different fields I mentioned in the title. What exactly are the differences? I'm currently majoring in mechanical engineering, with plans of going into aerospace engineering. However, I was wondering what different fields are involved in coming up with new...

Hello, 1. I am puzzled about which to be : theoretical physicist or pure mathematician ! what should i do ? 2. If i decided to be a theoretical physicist : should i study some pure maths to make new theory in physics ? Like general relativity : the maths used on it was before it a pure maths...

Hi, I'm entering my senior year as an undergraduate and will soon be applying to grad school. I go to a small university that has an excellent undergraduate research policy which has allowed me to have experienced working in experimental and theoretical(computational) physics. I know one of the...

Hello! This is my second thread in here. I'm just finished my high school and waiting for the results to get admission in an undergrad physics program. I was confused about career guidance and academic guidance feel free to move my thread if I'm in the wrong place I was wondering about major...

Hey Guys, I'm a junior in High School and am trying to be proactive by having an idea on what I want to major in once I get to college. (Yes I know it's far too early) From a young age I excelled in both Math and Science and have always had a natural pull to physics. For years I've had...

What do I lose from an astronomy/astrophysics candidates course, contrasted with a theoretical physics degree? Astrophysics is broader, and in that sense more appealing. However, I wonder if I am allowed to write about quantum mechanics as an undergraduate, in a theoretical astrophysics...

Hey guys, I'm new here! I will soon transfer to a 4 year Uni to get an undergraduate in Physics which is simple enough. Where I need advice is the Doctoral and Graduate degrees. I want to work in Theoretical Physics but I understand there are specific specializations you have to choose according...

I'm considering both the MSc in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces at Imperial and the Perimeter Scholars International program at Perimeter. I do not currently live in the UK or Canada (or even Europe or North America...) I want to continue to a PhD, possibly at the same place I did my...

Hello, I am in my third year of a 4 year integrated MPhys at the University of Liverpool, and I'm starting to think about applying to PhD places. Me and my girlfriend are intending to move to London when we graduate, so I'm planning on getting a job as a graduate software developer or some...

I am a philosophy student at candidates level. However, my dream is to study theoretical physics at a university. The ambition is NOT to become a great physicist (neccesarily). My goal is to be eligible for university studies and understand basic courses. So, is it required to be gifted...

Hi, I’d like to start some discussion about the utility of modern theoretical physics. • How important is the development of theory in the more applied fields of physics like biophysics, condensed matter? Are there relatively recent examples when a theoretical result was instrumental to the...

Hello, all. Perhaps this is the wrong place to post, considering the descriptor for this subforum is "Grad school and PhD help", but I couldn't see an alternative for advice about undergraduate study, so I hope you'll forgive me if this is the wrong place! This is the first forum I've come...

Homework Statement In "Methods of theoretical physics" from the authors Morse and Feshbach is writen: " The displacement (dx,dy,dz) is perpendicular to the surface if the component displacemetn satisfy the equation: How to prove this relation? Homework Equations the relevant...

Hi I recently got accepted into a 4 year degree in theoretical physics but I`m kinda starting to worry now that I might not get a job in it. I never really thought about employment before I just chose what I thought was most interesting. But , looking at the coursework, how does learning about...

I am feeling quite low. Let me start by telling you a bit about myself. As a child I was always asking "why?" I was also very curious. When I got older I found I was not bad at "math" and science. I read books like men of mathematics and biographies on Feynman and I began to form plans about...

Hello, Let's suppose a person has procured a Ph.D in Physics, and chooses to affix themselves to some community college faculty as a physics professor. Is it possible for this person to still do research in some aspect of theoretical physics?

Hello forum , so I've ventured to start searching for universities I plan on applying to... (Im still in high school ) and I would like to know what some of the best universities for Theoretical Physics are? How should one plan things out when choosing a University? Apart from Ranking and (ofc...

Hey everyone, new member here, and I was hoping I could get some insight into this question. I'm a physics major in a community college right now, with plans to transfer to a university and double major in physics and math, and eventually go into theoretical physics. I'd really like to minor...

Recently I joined a PhD program in a small unknown university in Asia. In the department, most of the faculties work on material and nano science except a professor who works on Astrophysics. The astrophysics professor agreed to be my supervisor and he asked me to work in the field of X-ray...

First of all I am new here so hey. I hope this is in the right section. So, I read Zapperz's So You Want To Be A Physicist article and that answered many of my questions. The article But I have not been able to find the exact qualifications to get into any theoretical physics major. I am a...

Okay Hello Forum Im a student in high school atm and I am extremely passionate about Mathematics(pure and computational) and Theoretical Physics I may be young and ambitious and whatnot at this point of my life but I'd really love some feedback to guide me on a clearer path... so I wanted...

I'm interested a lot in physics and math like most people here and I believe I can say I'm also good at them. I'm also more attracted to theoretical, abstract subjects than experimental or more phenomenological physics. I heard that any "real world" diff eq. more complicated than the hydrogen...

Here's my battle plan: 1: Learn (the principles) of verified models for fundamental physics. QFT, GR, Standard Model, etc. 2: Try to think of what I don't know and what I'd like to experimentally test.I think I'd prefer to get a regular job and research physics in my free time, rather than be...

I am desiring to get a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics, but I know not what college will be best for me to get that degree in. I am taking all the most advanced Science and Math classes at my School. Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy. I live in Southwest Missouri, and my parents have no money...

Title. I want to get a second degree (major) in something besides physics. If I would like to do theoretical physics (in any subfield of it, including mathematical physics), how much would a math major influence in my skills for developing the models?

Hello everyone, I am a student in Engineering Physics and I'm currently at the point where we have to choose in which domain we want to specialize. The undergraduate program in Engineering Physics at my university is leaning much more towards the physics part than the engineering part, so we...

I've often heard on PhysicsForums that career prospects are bright for theorists who paid attention to their math fundamentals and learned to program. That's me! It's also several of my fellow grad students. I suspect many others on this forum are in similar situations, and they may also benefit...

Hi guys! I'm a third year physics student. and I'm studying mathematical physics and particle physics. I thought of doing some research in the field of theoretical physics but the problem is I don't know which subject is most appropriate for me to do research in. I will appreciate it if someone...

howmany institutes are there in India for theoretical physics.

Is theoretical physics a real thing? What's the point of doing something that is relatively unknowable? How are such things researched, quantified, and calculated? And why is it accurate? Isn't it unknown until its actually applied?

I am soon to apply for university and I am not quite sure what I want to study. Theoretical physics and astrophysics/astronomy/cosmology all seem like very interesting fields of physics to me. How do I go about when I choose my career path? Which one of the fields has been more prospering than...

I am a student from Electrical Engineering department and now at the end of 3rd year in my university.But I want to do MS in Theoretical Physics in my university at the end of 4th year.The Theoretical Physics department offers these courses (listed below) in their MS and I have to choose among...