Questions tagged [physics]
For questions about mathematical problems arising from physics, the natural science studying general properties of matter, radiation and energy.
194 questions
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Path integrals for stochastic equations
Does there exist a rigorous mathematical proof for path integral representations given in the physics literature? See for example
http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/9912209v1
For imaginary time rigorous ...
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Has the Lie group E8 really been detected experimentally?
A few months ago there were several math talks about how the Lie group E8 had been detected in some physics experiment. I recently looked up the original paper where this was announced,
"Quantum ...
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1
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649
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A particular contour integral
Mathoverflow,
I'd like to carry out the following integral,
$$f(t) = \int_{- \infty}^{\infty}\frac{-i\Omega e^{i \Omega t}}{1-\sqrt{-i\Omega}\coth(\sqrt{-i\Omega})} d\Omega.$$
Here's what I've ...
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The condition of maximality in branching rules of $SO$ group representations
Let the highest weight of a $SO(2n+1)$ representation be given as $(m_1,m_2,...,m_n)$ ($m_1\geq m_2 \geq .. \geq m_n \geq 0$) and the highest weight of a $SO(2n)$ representation be $(s_1,s_2,...,s_n)$ ...
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Deriving the Mercator projection algorithm
The standard model of Mercator projection shows a cylinder wrapped around a spherical earth eg Wiki.
Many sites describe the resulting square map like this:
"...spherical Mercator maps use an extent ...
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In the topos-theoretic interpretation of Physics by Isham & Doering what role does intuitionistic logic play? [closed]
I've asked this question on Physics.SE but was advised to ask it here.
Isham & Doering have written a series of papers exploring how to ground physics in topoi. Now the internal logic of topoi is ...
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A question on chiral rings and geometry of the vacuum bundle
I am reading "Mirror Symmetry" by Hori et al, and have a question on Chap.17 (Chiral rings and geometry of the vacuum bundle). On p.425 the authors say
Consider the path-integral on the hemisphere. ...
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An algebraic approach to the thermodynamic limit $N\rightarrow\infty$?
In physics one studies quite often the thermodynamic limit or what we call the $N\rightarrow \infty$ behavior of a system of $N\rightarrow\infty$ particles. This is of particular relevance in the ...
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What is the relationship between complex time singularities and UV fixed points?
In this paper it is described how the turbulent kinetic energy spectrum and the flatness (a measure for intermittency) are governed by the position of the (dominant) singularities of the solutions of ...
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Explanations for mathematicians, about the falsifiability (or not) of string theory [closed]
Like many other mathematicians, I think string theory very attractive. This theory has wonderfully influenced many new topics in mathematics (I myself have worked on one of them), but it's not the ...
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Derivation of Bessel functions
I am writing a summary on a work on Fluid Dynamics that develops irrotational flow states that appear to interact amongst each other according to the equations of Electromagnetism http://arxiv.org/abs/...
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What is the "fundamental theorem of invariant theory" ?
The basic question I guess can be formulated as - given two integers $N_f$ and $N_c$ what are the ways in which the fundamental and the anti-fundamental representations of $U(N_f)$ be combined to get ...
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Three body problem with point interactions
I've studied the HVZ theorem for the three body problem interacting with regular potentials. I'd like to extend this result to the three body problem with point interactions (delta potentials).
Is ...
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Solvable models in quantum mechanics
Is there anyone who studied on the book "Solvable Models In Quantum Mechanics" by Albeverio? I don't succed in understanding the proof of page 116 about the eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian with point ...
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Proof of generalized Cauchy formula
I would like to know if there is a proof for the identity used in the superconformal index of 4d ${\cal N}=2$ gauge theory. In the paper by Rastelli el al, it was discovered that Eq. (10) is equal to ...
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Permuting Racked Pool Balls with a Single Break
Given reasonable physical assumptions (on friction, collisions, etc.), would it be possible to "break" in a pool game such that when all the balls come to rest, the only difference is that the racked ...
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What do correlation functions compute in CFT?
I would like to understand what correlation functions compute in Conformal Field Theory in mathematics. Let me begin with basic definitions. We define a free boson field $\phi(z)$ as a formal power ...
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orthotropic materials solution of boundary value problems
What are the methods or approaches for the analytical solutions of boundary value problems in the theory of elasticity for orthotropic materials?
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Impact of LHC on math ? [closed]
LHC (Large Hadron Collider) "... remains one of the largest and most complex experimental facilities ever built". May be it is even the most complex project in humankind's history(?).
Such projects ...
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2
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David Hilbert on Complex Multiplication [closed]
I have tried vainly to understand the significance of the following statement attributed to David Hilbert:
The theory of complex multiplication is not only the most beautiful part of mathematics ...
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Higgs mechanism from a deformation quantization point of view
Is it possible to describe the Higgs mechanism from a deformation quantization point of view? How would one do it? Are there aspects of the Higgs mechanism and Higgs particle which one may see clearer ...
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Distribution of random vectors
Two positive numbers $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are given. We are going to describe a process of choosing a random vector on the unit sphere $S$ in $\mathbb R^3$ (given by $x^2+y^2+z^2=1$).
A vector $u\in ...
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Quantum mechanics basics [closed]
Hello. I'm thinking about where does the basic quantum mechanics things comes from. I mean the forms of operators and a Shroedinger equation. The more intuitive explanation is better.
To get forms of ...
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Why is the physical space equivalent to $\mathbb{R}^3$ [closed]
I am trying to understand what would be the logical reasons behind our assumption that our physical space is equivalent to $\mathbb{R}^3$ or 'physical straight line' is equivalent to $\mathbb{R}$.
$\...
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What is the current state of the mathematics of Higgs fields?
Topical. I know there are good mathematical theories in which "Higgs" is used, in a geometrical sense. Would someone care to explain?
To clarify, I'd like to know about Higgs bundles on Riemann ...
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How the spin value is related to mathematical nature of the field?
Fields are one of the following: scalars, vectors, spinors or some Lie algebra elements, right? And it's often said that scalars are spin-0 and vectors are spin-1. So, what's idea of correspondence ...
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Best book for learning sensor fusion, specifically regarding IMU and GPS integration.
I have posted this in MathOverflow because the subject is primarily Math related.
I have a requirement of building an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) from the following sensors:
Accelerometer
...
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Bosonic String Theory
I would like clarification of 26 dimensional Bosonic String Theory. A definition would be, that this is free bosons compactified on a torus and orbifolded by a 2-point reflection group (or ...
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Singular K3 -- mathematical meaning?
There's a very interesting text by Cumrun Vafa called Geometric Physics.
Here I'm particularly interested in Chapter 4, where we take a Calabi-Yau manifold presented as a degenerating fibration:
...
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Simple question on the foundations of spin foam formalism
To make it simple, take the spin foam formalism of ($SU(2)$) 3D gravity. My question is about the choice of the data that will replace the (smoothly defined) fields $e$ (the triad) and $\omega$ (the ...
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Perpetuum Mobile
In 2 hours after posting this, I realized that preserving Liouville measure solves the problem completely. Sorry for disturbing...
Construction of perpetuum mobile:
Consider room with mirror walls ...
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Two interacting bodies in an external field
Hope, MO is the right place for this question (if not so: where would you pose it?).
Consider a two-body system in classical mechanics. As long as the interaction depends only on the distance of the ...
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Orbits for homogenous complex polynomials under unitary rotation of variables
Let's have two complex homogeneous polynomials of degree $k$: $f(z_1,\cdots,z_n)$ and $g(z_1,\cdots,z_n)$. We consider rotations of variables in the form of $\vec{z}' = U \vec{z}$, where $U\in SU(n)$.
...
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What is the "Physically Consistent" proper subset of arithmetic?
Suppose 1st-order arithmetic is inconsistent along with Voevodsky http://video.ias.edu/voevodsky-80th.
It nevertheless remains true that when you have 2 apples and 2 apples, you have 4 apples. ...
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Maxwell Stress Tensor and Equations in Mathematician's Language [closed]
In my language, a differential two-form on $\mathbb{R}^4$ (viewed as a differentiable manifold with coordinates $t,x,y,z$) is a differentiable choice at each point of an alternating bilinear function ...
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Which motion is exclusive in 3D or higher dimensions?
Hi guys,
I have a simple question
Linear movement can be found in 1D, 2D and 3D world objects
Rotation can be found in 2D and 3D world objects.
Now, are there any kind of motion can only be found ...
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Is there an analogue of mathscinet for physics?
I've been looking recently at some papers in physics, from journals that are not listed in mathscinet. Is there is a similar database for physics, with reviews and citation links? I'd like to see ...
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Particle Physics and Representations of Groups
This question is asked from a point of complete ignorance of physics and the standard model.
Every so often I hear that particles correspond to representations of certain Lie groups. For a person ...
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Why do Physicists need unitary representation of Kac-Moody algebra?
My advisor mentioned to me that he talked to Witten last summer on representation theory, and Witten told him that unitary representations of Kac-Moody algebra are important to working physicists. But ...
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Derived Physics
Hello to all,
This question will probably be closed down as being off-topic faster than one can say "string theory", but here it goes: I've noticed that the problems I'm working on -the structure of ...
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What is the meaning of symplectic structure? [closed]
Answers can come in mathematical, physical, and philosophical flavors.
Edit: There seems to be a consensus that this question is not formulated well. I must respectfully disagree. My interest in the ...
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Prevalence of B-fields
I am wondering how B-fields, which are basic objects in Generalized Geometry, relate to the B-fields of Ben's question and the answers to it.
In Generalized Geometry, the B-field is a (1,1)-form, and ...
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Children's drawings and Seiberg-Witten curves
This physics (bear with me for a while) paper seems to say something about Gal \bar Q/Q:
Children's Drawings From Seiberg-Witten Curves, hep-th/061108.
Let's ...
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Cone shaped solutions to wave equation
When I studied physics, we learned how to write down planar waves and spherical waves. But, when I turn on my flashlight, I see a cone of light. How can I see that there is a solution to the wave ...
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