Theoretical physics

two interrelated physics theories by Albert Einstein

thumb|upright=1.25|Symmetry (left) and asymmetry (right) thumb|upright=0.8|A spherical symmetry group with [[octahedral symmetry. The yellow region shows the fundamental domain.]] thumb|upright=0.8|A fractal-like shape that has [[reflectional symmetry, rotational symmetry and self-similarity, three forms of symmetry. This shape is obtained by a finite subdivision rule.]]

In physics, spacetime, also called the space-time continuum, is a mathematical model that fuses the three dimensions of space and the one dimension of time into a single four-dimensional continuum. Spacetime diagrams are useful in visualizing and understanding relativistic effects, such as how different observers perceive where and when events occur.

branch of physics concerned with formulating theory rather than performing experiments

Supersymmetry is a theoretical framework in physics that suggests the existence of a symmetry between particles with integer spin (bosons) and particles with half-integer spin (fermions). It proposes that for every known particle, there exists a partner particle with different spin properties. There have been multiple experiments on supersymmetry that have failed to provide evidence that it exists in nature. If evidence is found, supersymmetry could help explain certain phenomena, such as the nature of dark matter and the hierarchy problem in particle physics.

transform between the coordinates of two reference frames which differ only by constant relative motion within the constructs of Newtonian physics

physical phenomenon in which the vacuum expectation value of a field is not invariant under a symmetry of the action, so that a symmetry present at high temperatures is broken at low temperatures

physical principle in which physics inside a bounded region is fully captured by physics at the boundary of the region

System of ordinary differential equations first studied by Edward Lorenz

the proposition that the occurrence of life in the universe is very sensitive to the values of certain fundamental physical constants and that the observed values are, for some reason, improbable

character of a humorous metaphor for highly simplified scientific models of complex real life phenomena

scalar field whose vacuum expectation value spontaneously breaks electroweak gauge symmetry

radius of a circle which best approximates a curve in a given point

function acting on the space of physical states in physics

mathematical model used in general relativity

effect or phenomenon that is not invariant under a presumed or approximate symmetry of a physical system

a scientific principle used within the calculus of variations, which develops general methods for finding functions which extremize the value of quantities that depend upon those functions

research institute

type of linear representation

theoretical device to render objects invisible

application of theoretical physics to experimental data by making quantitative predictions based upon known theories

a theoretical model describing interacting electrons (or other fermions) in a one-dimensional conductor (e.g. quantum wires such as carbon nanotubes)

locally finite partially ordered set, used to model discretized Lorentzian spacetime

deliberately simplistic model with many details removed so that it can be used to explain a mechanism concisely, also useful in a description of the fuller model

conceptual conflict between general relativity and quantum mechanics

in quantum gravity, a structure consisting of two-dimensional faces for path integrals

graphical notation for multilinear algebra calculations

physicist (1924–1991)

properties underlying modern physics

concept of universality in physical science

French academic dispute

scientific journal

theoretical attempts to unify the forces of nature

interpretation of quantum mechanics according to which retarded (forward in time) and advanced (backward in time) waves form a quantum interaction as a Wheeler–Feynman handshake

equation relating transport coefficients to correlation functions

symmetry breaking in physics

In physics, a fluxon is a quantum of electromagnetic flux. The term may have any of several related meanings.

timeline

group of gauge symmetries in a gauge theory

method of approximation useful in wave scattering equations

NASA conceptual interstellar ship

effect in theoretical astrophysics

mathematical method

numerical variational technique devised to obtain the low energy physics of quantum many-body systems with high accuracy