Questions tagged [physics]
For questions about mathematical problems arising from physics, the natural science studying general properties of matter, radiation and energy.
180
questions
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Force–Balance Matrix for FEM [closed]
Consider 4 vertices that are grouped into 2 triangles:
I need to construct a system of equations $$ \mathbf{A} f = -f^\text{ext} $$ such that the forces $f$ balance the external forces and satisfy ...
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
53
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Biot-Savart-like integral for a toroidal helix
The following problem originates from Physics, so I apologize if I will not use a rigorous mathematical jargon.
Let us consider a toroidal helix parametrized as follows:
$$
x=(R+r\cos(n\phi))\cos(\phi)...
- 235
1
vote
1
answer
106
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calculating a double limit
We have the following term:
$$ (e^{-a h}+e^{-b h})^n / 2^n$$
Now we take the limit:
$$ h\to 0, n\to \infty $$
What relation of $h$ and $n$ must be satisfied for the following limit to hold?
$$\lim_{h\...
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3
votes
1
answer
178
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Interesting question about the Thomson problem for arbitrary number of electrons
This question is crossposted from here I believe this is a pretty hard question and so I decided to repost the question in the Math Overflow forum. If there is something wrong with doing this, I am ...
- 51
3
votes
1
answer
111
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Applications of maximal surfaces in Lorentz spaces
I have been working on minimal surfaces, only recently learnt about maximal surfaces and "maxfaces" in Lorentz spaces.
I can clearly see the mathematical motivations. But I wonder if zero-...
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votes
2
answers
254
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Inverse square-law as a positive definite kernel?
Newtons law for gravity states that:
$$F_{12} = \frac{G m_1 m_2} {|x_1-x_2|^2}$$
The function :
$$k(x,y):=\exp(-| x-y|^2)$$
is known to be a positive definite function, called the RBF-kernel.
It ...
- 1,866
0
votes
0
answers
21
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Generating a proper finite difference scheme
I have recently started studying the finite difference schemes for numerical analysis. While I can now calculate difference schemes fairly easily for simple equations, I've recently come across a ...
2
votes
1
answer
172
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inclusion of von Neumann algebras implies reversing inequality of its modular operators
I'm working with von Neumann algebras and I stumbled with this statement in a work of Borchers (1999)
Since $\mathcal N \subseteq \mathcal M$, it follows by standard arguments that $\Delta_{\mathcal ...
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3
votes
2
answers
210
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Mathematical difference between solitons and traveling waves for a non-linear dispersive PDE
I see many mathematicians conflating the definitions of traveling waves and solitons, and I am unable to understand, from a mathematical point of view, the differences between these two types of ...
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1
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0
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82
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How to smoothly interpolate gravitational field between trajectories in high dimension?
I'm looking for the adequate numerical interpolation technique to solve the following problem. This is probably trivial for physicists who study gravitational fields, but I didn't find clear answers ...
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11
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1
answer
403
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D'Alembert's Principle: rigorous formulation using notions from modern differential geometry
Is there a rigorous definition of D'Alembert's principle of virtual dynamic work in the language of differential geometry? Some questions I'm hoping to answer are:
How to view the configuration space ...
- 111
1
vote
0
answers
86
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polynomial approximation of hypergeometric function 2F1
I have the following function $T(k_1,k_2)$ resulting from multiphoton transition matrix elements calculations:
$T(k_1,k_2)=\gamma^{-k_2}\sum_{j=0}^{k_1}(j+2)_{l+1}\binom{k_1}{j}(k_1+1)_3(\gamma-1)^{j}{...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
241
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Mathematical characterization of gravitational geons as reference request, and their properties as main question
I've edited (ten days ago) a question on Physics Stack Exchange, this Mathematical characterization of gravitational geons, post with identifier 726281 the users of the site were kind adding in the ...
5
votes
0
answers
125
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Particles sent into the same direction with uniformly distributed speed
Fix a positive integer $n$. Every second, a particle is sent along a straight line from a fixed position in a fixed direction, at a random integer speed chosen uniformly in $\{1,\ldots, n\}$ meters ...
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18
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9
answers
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How does a Masters student of math learn physics by self?
I am a Masters student of math interested in physics. When I was an undergraduate, I took the introductory course of physics, but it is just slightly harder than high school physics course. To be ...
- 183
2
votes
1
answer
309
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Examples of ODEs with complex constant coefficients and applications to physics?
This question is asked on stackexchange: Are there examples for ODEs with complex coefficients with applications in physics?
but received no answers. I am reposting it here on the hope that it catches ...
- 554
3
votes
0
answers
154
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How to calculate the integral of a product of a spherical Hankel function with associated Legendre polynomials
From numerical experiments in Mathematica, I have found the following expression for the integral:
$$
\int_{-1}^{1}h_{n}^{(1)}\left(\sqrt{a^{2}+b^{2}+2ab\tau}\right)P_{n}^{m}\left(\frac{a\tau+b}{\sqrt{...
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votes
1
answer
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Why are discreteness and smoothness in physics inversed with respect to geometry?
In a closed (say differentiable) Riemannian manifold you see only continuous features when looking at small neighbourhoods of points. From afar,
discrete features appear ((co)homology, closed ...
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3
votes
0
answers
106
views
Are square configurations the only critical points of the energy on the circle?
$\newcommand{\S}{\mathbb{S}^1}$
$\newcommand{\la}{\lambda}$Let$$M=\{(x_1,x_2,x_3,x_4) \in (\S)^4\,\, |\,\, \text{ all the } x_i \, \text{ are distinct}\} $$
Define $E:M \to \mathbb{R}$ by
$$E(x_1,x_2,...
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4
votes
0
answers
89
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Superspace derivation of supersymmetric non-linear sigma model in Supersolutions by Deligne and Freed
I am having a little trouble understanding passage from the linear to the non-linear sigma model in Section 4.1 of Supersolutions by Deligne and Freed. Most of my confusion comes down to the ...
user482049
3
votes
1
answer
298
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Why are solenoidal fields called solenoidal?
A solenoidal tangent field, mathematically speaking, is one whose divergence vanishes. They are also called incompressible. I understand why they are called incompressible — a fluid flow is called ...
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16
votes
1
answer
712
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From a physicist: How do I show certain superelliptic curves are also hyperelliptic?
As the title suggests, I am a physicist and have a question about how to show certain superelliptic curves are also hyperelliptic. The superelliptic Riemann surfaces in question has the form $$w^n = \...
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19
votes
4
answers
2k
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Applications of complex exponential
In calculus we learn about many applications of real exponentials like $e^x$ for bacteria growth, radioactive decay, compound interest, etc. These are very simple and direct applications. My question ...
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3
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1
answer
303
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How are spatial coordinate systems in physics defined?
Grothendieck once asked "What is a meter?" (https://golem.ph.utexas.edu/category/2006/08/letter_from_grothendieck.html). This innocent sounding question, made me to think about how ...
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2
votes
0
answers
163
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Is there an example Hamiltonian that is uncomputable?
In a paper from 2015 Toby S. Cubitt et al showed that the problem of determining the existence of a band gap in the excitation spectrum of a quantum many-body system, was undecidable. This result ...
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2
votes
4
answers
265
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EM-wave equation in matter from Lagrangian
Note
I am not sure if this post is of relevance for this platform, but I already asked the question in Physics Stack Exchange and in Mathematics Stack Exchange without success.
Setup
Let's suppose a ...
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votes
1
answer
350
views
Harmonic function in infinite domain in $\mathbb{R}^3$, constant on the boundary and decaying as $1/r^2$
EDIT: Let $\Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^3$ be a bounded domain with smooth connected boundary. Let $f\colon \mathbb{R}^3\backslash \Omega \to \mathbb{R}$ be a continuous function which is harmonic in $\...
- 20.4k
0
votes
1
answer
267
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Harmonic functions in infinite domain in Euclidean space
EDIT: Let $\Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^n$ be a bounded domain with smooth boundary. Let $f\colon \mathbb{R}^n\backslash \Omega \to \mathbb{R}$ be a continuous function which is harmonic in $\mathbb{R}^n\...
- 20.4k
0
votes
0
answers
80
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The specific connection between the Hecke operator and the t'Hooft Operator
As I was reading some articles concern about the Selberg trace formula and its general form, I have noticed that the Selberg trace formula and its general form can be understand as the energy spectrum ...
2
votes
1
answer
154
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Vacuum state generating functional
In Theorem 1 of this paper Segal stablish a relation between states and generating functionals.
He assert that in order to $\mu$ be a generating functional must satisfy
$$
\sum_{j,k\in F} \mu (z_j-...
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0
answers
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Is there any physics theory which is similar to these analogies?
Since I am doing this little "research" project on my spare time and in my physical neighborhood there are not many people to discuss these ideas, I wanted to share with you a small point of ...
- 1,866
11
votes
1
answer
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views
State of rigorous effective quantum field theories
It's well-known that there are no rigorously constructed and physically relevant QFTs. There is, however, a lot of mathematical work on effective field theories and renormalization, such as the books ...
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votes
1
answer
374
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Formula involving Wigner's 3j symbols and integration over irreducible representations of SU(2)
In some calculations, I saw the following formula
$$\int_{\mathrm{SU}(2)}\,\mathrm{d}g\,D^{j_{1}}_{m_{1}n_{1}}(g)D^{j_{2}}_{m_{2}n_{2}}(g)D^{j_{3}}_{m_{3}n_{3}}(g)=(-1)^{j_{1}+j_{2}+j_{3}}\begin{...
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votes
2
answers
1k
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Reference for mathematical Palatini formalism of general relativity
I know that this is maybe not a research level question, but since the topic is quite special, I thought that the chance to get some reference is higher in this community.
I am looking for a reference ...
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1
vote
0
answers
140
views
Angular velocity from rotation matrix difference [closed]
I am working on something for a game. I need to calculate the angular velocity, however in my situation I only have access to the previous rotation matrix and the current rotation matrix. My angular ...
- 111
1
vote
0
answers
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views
Is there an analytic formula (or even a name...) for a plane curve with curvature inversely proportional to x?
I'm interested in plane curves with curvature inversely proportional to distance from the axis:
$$\kappa(t) = \left(\frac{x'(t) y''(t) - y'(t)x''(t)}{(x'(t)^2 + y'(t)^2)^{3/2}} \right) = \frac{1}{a x(...
3
votes
1
answer
284
views
What is the precise relationship between real Poisson algebras and commutative $C^*$ algebras?
I've been teaching myself quantum mechanics, and I realized that I'm missing something fundamental. Namely, there are two pictures that I don't know how to reconcile:
Quantum Mechanics generalizes ...
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3
votes
4
answers
856
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Applications of Hamiltonian formalism to classical mechanics
In many courses in theoretical classical mechanics Hamiltonian formalism takes an important place. However I did not see it applied to problems of classical mechanics (unless one expands the scope of ...
- 20.4k
15
votes
6
answers
3k
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Maxwell equations as Euler-Lagrange equation without electromagnetic potential
In (mathematical) physics many equations of motion can be interpreted as Euler-Lagrange (EL) equations. The Maxwell equation for electromagnetic (EM) field (say in vacuum and in absence of charges) ...
- 20.4k
1
vote
1
answer
107
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Is there a Bell inequality for each of $2\times 2$, $3\times 1$, $2\times1\times1$ and $1\times1\times1\times1$ configurations?
There was no answer in https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/600494/is-there-a-bell-inequality-for-2-times-2-and-1-times1-times1-times1-configur. Hence posting in mathoverflow on the possibility ...
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9
votes
1
answer
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views
Why the least action principle is always (?) used in this particular form?
The least action principle in (mathematical) physics says the following. Given a system, e.g. collection of particles, whose motion satisfies a known system of differential equations (of second order)...
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3
votes
2
answers
333
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Classification of Lagrangians with given Euler-Lagrange equations
In (mathematical) physics the equations of motion of a system of particles are often interpreted as Euler-Lagrange equations for appropriate Lagrangian $L=L(x,\dot x,t)$ where $x$ is a collection of ...
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2
votes
0
answers
196
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What is the relationship between Riemannian and sympletic musical isomorphisms on the cotangent bundle?
Let $M$ be a smooth manifold. Its cotangent bundle naturally has a symplectic structure, and this gives rise to musical isomorphisms. These musical isomorphisms are the ones from physics that relate ...
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4
votes
1
answer
99
views
Deriving integral in Gaiotto-Tommasiello theory
I was looking at a paper by Takao Suyama on GT theory, and I couldn't figure out how he derived his formula (3.59):
$$\frac{1}{\pi}\int_a^bdx\frac{1}{z-x}\frac{\sqrt{(z-a)(z-b)}}{\sqrt{|(x-a)(x-b)|}}\...
- 161
3
votes
1
answer
195
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Monotile that tiles when you apply a rubber band
My (non-mathematician) friend asked me a physics/tilings question that maybe someone here is interested in dissecting, or can point to the literature if this problem has been studied.
Does there ...
- 6,162
1
vote
1
answer
58
views
Set of eigenvalues of the boundary problem
I'm looking for the results about the set of eigenvalues of boundary problem for differential equation
\begin{equation}
\bigl(p(x) u'(x; \lambda) \bigr)' + q(x) u(x; \lambda) = -\lambda w(x) u(x; \...
- 19
2
votes
0
answers
156
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geometrical or physical interpretation of second Chern classes of Calabi-Yau threefold
It's my first post.
Consider Calabi-Yau threefold $M$ and its tangent bundle $TM$. I know $c_1(TM)=0$ means metric on $M$ is a solution of vacuum Einstein equation. Then my question is "are there any ...
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2
votes
1
answer
335
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Applications of Generalized Geometry to Theoretical Physics [closed]
I'm looking for some topics on Generalized Geometry applied to Physics for a master thesis. I took an introductory course last year, and I have a degree in both Mathematics and Physics. I would ...
- 21
5
votes
1
answer
345
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Gadgets as primality tests
From the literature, showed below, I know two gadgets that provide a way to know if a positive integer (a positive quantity of units) is composite or a prime number. I would like to know if in the ...
2
votes
1
answer
84
views
Sufficient conditions for unitarity of a representation of a Lie Superalgebra
Suppose we have a Lie superalgebra with triangular decomposition:
\begin{equation}
\mathfrak{g} = \mathfrak{g}^{+} \oplus \mathfrak{g}^{0} \oplus \mathfrak{g}^{-}
\end{equation}
I've seen it stated ...
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