What is fine tuning in physics/science?

[Lynch101]

This isn't intended to be a discussion of the philosophical "fine tuning argument", rather, I'm hoping to fact check myself as to what is meant by "fine tuning" in physics.

My understanding was that fine-tuning is the process in which parameters of a model must be adjusted very precisely in order to fit with certain observations.

Essentially the idea that the values for certain parameters must be "put in by hand" as opposed to being necessitated/predicted by the mathematical model.

I haven't been able to find a reliable reference to support that idea though. I searched the forums and saw quite a few threads discussing "fine tuning" but from a cursory skim, they seem to take fine tuning as understood.

 

[Frabjous]

very precisely

This is the important part. While a fine-tuned theory is not incorrect, it leaves open the question of “why the specific values?”

 

[Lynch101]

This is the important part. While a fine-tuned theory is not incorrect, it leaves open the question of “why the specific values?”

Yep, that's the deeper question.

Have you seen a reliable source for that definition of fine tuning, or where it is used in a paper?

 

[Frabjous]

Yep, that's the deeper question.

Have you seen a reliable source for that definition of fine tuning, or where it is used in a paper?

I do not believe that there is an accepted definition of fine tuning; it is more of an interpretative tool. You are going to need someone one more theoretical than me to quantify it. Sorry.