Theoretical physics Definition and 551 Threads

Dear all, I want to be able to read and understand the basic concepts of Theoretical Physics (String Theory, LQG, Supersymmetry, AdS/CFT) at the level of: 1- A First Course in String Theory by Barton Zwiebach 2- Quantum Gravity by Carlo Rovelli. I plan to study the following textbooks (in...

My name is Alex, and my dream is to become a theoretical physicist. I know that is probably very vague, so let me clear it up a bit. I love the universe. I think the universe is the most amazing place, just because of how weird it can be. I really can't get enough of it. I would spend hours...

Im new to college and I am majoring in Physics, how would i go about getting a degree in theoretical physics

Hi I am going into the 4th year of Physics at Oxford this October and have been looking into PhDs etc. I'm quite keen on going into theoretical physics (Particle or condensed) and from reading various university websites it seems that places for this are relatively scarce. At Oxford for...

Hey guys, I know this is predominately an american centred forum but I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. I've completed the first year of a Theoretical Physics 4 year course at Durham (in the UK). However with the modules that I chose I do still have the option to swap over to...

Hanno Sahlmann has announced the formation of a new LQG group, at the APCTP in Korea. There are postdoc and PhD student positions to be filled and he indicates he would like to get them filled by this fall (which is fast approaching!) sahlmann@particle.skipthis.uni-karlsruhe.andthis.de...

Hello, I am lately looking for a theoretical physics master program taught in English, and I came across http://www.theorie.physik.uni-muenchen.de/TMP/courses/index.html" . It really looks like a complete program for those who seek a really mathematical-based courses; not to mention its hot...

Hi, I'm a student currently going into my 4th and final year of an MSci in Physics with Theoretical Physics at Imperial College London. I'm currently averaging at a high 2.1, and hope to achieve a low 1st class degree (I won't go into the reasons for this slightly optimistic sounding prediction...

Hi there! a little background about me: 1. final year in bsc physics, malaysia. 2. working on DFT as final yr project (err.. lots of programming involved) 3. like math and how we apply it in physics. 4. have no idea which field of theoretical physics to go into. questions: 1. Is it...

Hi all, I'm wondering what field of theoretical physics is least competitive. I'm guessing it's one in which there is most funding available, and I'm further guessing that is theoretical condensed matter physics (CMP). I'm guessing that CMP research, theory namely, has results that are most...

Hello, the professor supervising my bachelor thesis is happy with the results. Together with another co-author, he is currently writing a paper for Physical Review Letters and is considering adding my results to it. However, for this purpose, he needs more general results. In other words, if...

I am an undergraduate physics major aspiring to study theoretical physics in graduate school. I was wondering if it is better to double major in math and physics, at the expense of taking less physics classes and more rigorous proof based math, or minor in math and take the two semester...

Hello, everyone. I'm sorry if this is in the wrong place ... anyway ... I'm studying to be a biomedical researcher, but I have a great interest in physics and math, and I feel like I can't live without learning these sciences in a more deep way than I would need for my profession. Physics...

Hey all, I'm going to be a freshman in college in a month or two, and am currently intending on majoring in something within the liberal arts; at the moment, I'm heavily considering philosophy. I'm quite interested in theoretical physics, astronomy, cosmology, and astrophysics as side...

Hey PF, I am a third year undergraduate who has been working in a HEP experimental group for two years. So I have had a good deal of experience with the research process, and I know basically what the grad students and postdocs spend their time on in my group. I am still completely...

I was reading that while you study a Bsc in Theoretical Physics, you learn how to do quite a lot of programming. I am quite unfamiliar with programming but I was wondering how transferable are the programming skills you learn? Are they applicable to things like web design etc? Or are they only...

I have become enamored with Theoretical Physics. I want to learn. Can I teach myself? Do I need to study other areas of Physics first? Do I need to take collegiate courses? I'd add on a science related major/minor, but I have just switched my major and I am too behind and broke to do so...

After 3 years of udergraduate study I need to decide on my Master Degree program (which is very specialized here in EU). I really hate programming and experimental stuff while I am very interested in mathematical approach so I want to do theoretical physics (with no computional aspects). However...

I'm currently looking to major in theoretical physics/astrophysics for my undergraduate studies next year and I have a few questions about it that I'd like cleared up. At the moment, I'm a year 12 Australian high school student and I'm trying to decide exactly where and what I want to study at...

After reading this: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=402926" or this: http://infoproc.blogspot.com/2005/02/out-on-tail.html" I am speechless. As far as I know in every field of science you need skills and luck in order to succeed. Yet it seems that only in math...

Dear all, I'm a German physicist in his second year and I'm going to finish my bachelor thesis in summer 2011. To make international experiences I tend to do my Master's degree abroad and I think Great Britain would be a good choice. After some discussions with friend who are studying in...

Hey guys, I'm new here. I read Zz's 'So you want to be a physicist', great post and I learned a lot about it. However, I have some questions pertaining specifically to theoretical physicists. Are there less theoretical physicist jobs than experimental physicist jobs? What constitutes a...

Anyone want to offer me a Phd in Theoretical Physics?? So here's the thing: I'm just about to graduate with an MSci in Physics and I desperately want to keep studying. I found this website (PF) earlier in the week and have thoroughly enjoyed reading and contributing to various threads. My...

I'm starting university in Ireland in October, and I want to pursue Theoretical Physics. Could someone please give me some feedback on the course please? Here's the link. It includes all the modules. Theoretical Physics: http://www.tcd.ie/Physics/undergraduate/theoretical_physics/

Hello, I'm in year 10, Australia, Victoria.. After i leave school I am looking to do a corse in theoretical physics although I am unsure what subjects i need to do, I am planning on doing -English -Specialist maths -Physics -Math Methods -Chemistry -Software development Software...

I want to read Sommerfed Lectures on Theoretical Physics. I started with vol.1 Mechanics. Just wondering if anyone here has read any of the vols? Or perhaps wants to read them in the future?

What types of mathematics is needed for a undergrad pursue theoretical physics? How rigorous does it have to be and how much proofs is there?

what's the point? my friend majored in this he's a phd student and he made $600 last year

Hello, I am a physics student and I am currently writing my Bachelor thesis in theoretical Physics. A thing which has sometimes crossed my mind over the past months is this: I have always loved computers and programming. I always find it fun to solve some programing related problem. E.g...

Is there any advantage in getting a masters of science (say for theoretical physics) before getting your PHD? I was thinking it might be easier to be admitted to a better PHD program if you obtain a masters degree at a different school first, as oppose to just applying to a PHD program right out...

I am doing my final year B Tech in electrical engineering, but my interest is in theoretical physics. Though I have applied to some US universities for applied physics with the hope that I can switch to theoretical physics later but am not sure if I will get admission. Can anyone suggest me...

I have heard from many sources that getting a PhD in theoretical physics (relativity, string theory, cosmology) is a trap. The US trains twice as many PhD's as there are jobs available. Also, there is tough competition and only a 1/4th of PhD's get tenure at a university! The point is I'm in...

Come on guys, the decision deadline is coming up! I am completely and utterly in two minds. As I understand it Manchester is better for physics than UCL, but UCL is a much better university. Which one dudessssss :S Cheers -Christie

I have read the numerous threads discussing experimental vs. theoretical physics on this forum. I am leaning toward pursuing theoretical physics in and after graduate school despite the numerous caveats regarding job prospects. I realize that one need not make a decision between theoretical and...

Generally I've found that the more mathematical a Physics class I'm taking is the more I like it. For example I didn't really love the modern physics course I took because it wasn't very math heavy and focused a lot more on conceptual understanding rather than delving very deeply into the math...

Hi I'm doing my pre-final year Electronics and communication engineering in India. But i want my career to be in theoretical physics. My ultimate aim is to find the secret behind the birth and working of our universe. Previously due to my family's compulsion i took engineering. Now i want to go...

¿Cosmology or Theoretical Physics? I have a dilemma. I have an offer for Cosmology and I have an offer for Theoretical Physics. I'm ofcourse aware of both fields, but I would like to know from you what their main differences are. Thank you!

Theoretical physics after physics?? Hey all I am going to do Physics bachelors course (UCAS F300).But i do like theoretical physics due to financial problems i cannot go any university which having theoretical physics courses.But i got a university which having only Physics courses...

Hi PF, This semester I'm finally starting to enjoy problem sets. I was wondering, how similar are the skills used to solve problem sets to the skills theoretical physicists use to solve actual problems? Thanks, DoD

Hello dear forum member I wanted to know how about the research on this branch of science.Are many people working on or is it a very very small area because it is too difficult . Are researchers in this area seeking new maths in the short what is the general policy direction of their research

I'm a high school senior at the moment and am interested in knowing MIT's stance in the theoretical physics community. I've heard it's a bad place for particle theory, but I'm not sure I want to go into that anymore. Recently I've been intrigued by SUSY and (less so) String Theory, but I'm...

What exactly is the difference? The latter does not seem so popular to me? On average how much does the latter earn?

Hello everyone, My name is Uri and I have a question. What jobs are available for those who completed a Ph.D in particle and theoretical physics and made a postdoctorate research in string theory and quantum gravity? What kind of jobs are available to these kind of people besides working...

Science is independent of philosophy, however, Theoretical Physics is not JUST a science and sometimes philosophical arguments are employed. I have noticed that, although I do independent philosophy, I have never studied formal philosophy. Can any of you recommend me a book on philosophy...

I am going to apply for UK universities for postgraduate. Why 4 years for M.Sci Theoretical Physics in UK? 4 years full-time Hon M.Phys How many years for P.hd? After full time M.sci or M.Phill 4 years I get Hon M.Phys ?? please tell me ? Some universities offer some combined...

Dear All, I'm in the process of looking for a PhD position in Theoretical Physics but I'm unclear about a few things. 1) I still don't really know what I really want to do. The only thing I am sure of is that I want my research to help me in my understanding of ideas which I regard as...

I am still a senior in high school and I am goin go to graduate next year and go to university next year. I was in the career center today and the teacher asked how many students here are pursuing a career in Physics? And a few of us put our hands up. The teacher said that it is a wise...

I have become frustrated with modern theoretical physics as of late; because it seems to be slow on the validation of on different physical theories. Of course due to the nature of the field this is completely expected – with where we are today, it is extremely expensive and requires much human...

Which do you think would be better for getting into a theoretical physics program: -- a 2.5 cumulative gpa with a 3.5 physics gpa or -- a 3.0 gpa, both cumulative and physics Also, if your gpa is around 3.0 (+- 0.2), what are your chances of actually getting into a phd program?

I hope to do my bachelors in theoretical physics and after i need to do a job due to my financial problems.So i want to know how about the job opportunities for theoretical physics Bsc in UK and how much do they earn? I heard jobs for theoretical physics Bsc are very rare? is it true...