physical theory
theories about the physical universe
M-theory
framework of superstring theory incorporating all five superstring theories
mean field theory
approximation method where the behavior of a single particle can be treated assuming all other influences are averaged
Lippmann Schwinger equation
equation used in quantum scattering problems
seesaw mechanism
generic model for masses of neutrinos relative to the quarks and charged leptons
Schwinger limit
critical field in QED
causal dynamical triangulation
theory that tries to give a quantum field description of gravity
interpretation of quantum mechanics
set of statements which attempt to explain how quantum mechanics informs our understanding of nature
Laplace plane
reference plane about whose axis the instantaneous orbital plane of a satellite precesses
heat equation
partial differential equation for distribution of heat in a given region over time
quantum mechanics
fundamental theory in physics describing the properties of nature on an atomic scale
Lorenz system
System of ordinary differential equations first studied by Edward Lorenz
Dirac adjoint
dual to the Dirac spinor
multiple time dimensions
concept that there might be more than one dimension of time
bootstrap model
class of physical theories that use consistency criteria and assumptions on the spectrum to determine the form of a quantum theory
Green's law
evolution of non-breaking surface gravity waves propagating in shallow water of gradually varying depth and width
Schwinger boson
representation of spin operators using second quantized boson operators
Maxwell relations
equations involving the partial derivatives of thermodynamic quantities
Dirac bracket
quantization method for constrained Hamiltonian systems with second-class constraints
Feynman checkerboard
fermion path integral approach in 1+1 dimensions
white dwarf
type of stellar remnant composed mostly of electron-degenerate matter
Eddington number
number of protons in the observable universe
Schwinger model
quantum electrodynamics in 1+1 dimensions
Schwinger function
euclidean Wightman distributions
theory of everything
hypothetical single, all-encompassing, coherent theoretical framework of physics
Archimedes number
used to determine the motion of fluids due to density differences
Landau damping
effect of damping of longitudinal space charge waves in plasma or a similar environment
objective-collapse theory
theory according to which wavefunction collapse happens under well-defined, objective conditions
density wave theory
theory to explain the spiral arm structure of spiral galaxies
Van der Pol oscillator
non-conservative oscillator with non-linear damping
de Sitter invariant special relativity
physics theory in which local spacetime symmetry is the de Sitter group, not the Poincaré group
Stewartson layer
shear layer connecting differentially rotating regions
Landau diamagnetism
The theory that describes diamagnetism in a free electron gas
Maxwell's equations
set of partial differential equations that describe how electric and magnetic fields are generated and altered by each other and by charges and currents
quantum Darwinism
theory of the emergence of classicality by environment-induced selection of quantum states
Terrell rotation
in special relativity, the visual distortion of the appearance of a passing object moving at relativistic speeds
cosmological perturbation theory
theory by which the evolution of structure is understood in the big bang model
Hubble sequence
morphological classification scheme for galaxies invented by Edwin Hubble
field theory
physical theory describing fields
plasticity theory
solid mechanics theory that is used to describe the plastic behavior of materials
conformal symmetry
extension to the Poincaré group