Goldstone boson
A Goldstone boson is a type of excitation that arises in quantum field theory as a result of spontaneous symmetry breaking. When a system exhibits symmetry in its underlying laws, but the ground state (or vacuum state) does not share that symmetry, Goldstone's theorem states that there will be massless scalar excitations called Goldstone bosons.
Gravitational instanton
A gravitational instanton is a mathematical object that arises in the context of quantum gravity and the path integral formulation of quantum field theory. It can be understood as a non-trivial solution to the equations of motion of a gravitational system, often represented in a Euclidean signature (as opposed to Lorentzian, which is the conventional signature used in general relativity).
Green's function
Green's function is a powerful mathematical tool used primarily in the fields of differential equations and mathematical physics. It serves a variety of purposes, but its main role is to solve inhomogeneous linear differential equations subject to specific boundary conditions.
Group analysis of differential equations is a mathematical approach that utilizes the theory of groups to study the symmetries of differential equations. In particular, it seeks to identify and exploit the symmetries of differential equations to simplify their solutions or the equations themselves. ### Key Concepts in Group Analysis 1. **Groups and Symmetries**: In mathematics, a group is a set equipped with an operation that satisfies certain axioms (closure, associativity, identity, and invertibility).
Group contraction
Group contraction typically refers to a phenomenon in various contexts, including sociology, organizational behavior, and team dynamics, where a group or organization reduces its size or scope of operations. This can happen through downsizing, layoffs, mergers, or other means of consolidation. The term can also refer to the process of a group simplifying its structure or processes.
Group velocity
Group velocity is a concept in wave theory that refers to the velocity at which the overall shape of a group of waves (or wave packets) travels through space. It is particularly important in the context of wave phenomena, such as light, sound, and water waves, and is often distinguished from phase velocity, which is the speed at which individual wave crests (or phases) move.
Gurzadyan-Savvidy relaxation
Gurzadyan-Savvidy relaxation refers to a specific relaxation mechanism observed in certain physical and materials science contexts, particularly in the study of phase transitions and the dynamics of disordered systems. It is named after the researchers who proposed the concept, where they explored the behavior of systems under various conditions of relaxation, particularly in relation to non-equilibrium states and the way systems return to equilibrium. In general, relaxation processes describe how a system responds over time after being disturbed from its equilibrium state.
Hamiltonian field theory
Hamiltonian field theory is a framework in theoretical physics that extends Hamiltonian mechanics, which is typically used for finite-dimensional systems, to fields, which are infinite-dimensional entities. This approach is particularly useful in the context of classical field theories and quantum field theories. In Hamiltonian mechanics, the state of a system is described by generalized coordinates and momenta, and the evolution of the system is governed by Hamilton's equations.
Hamiltonian mechanics
Hamiltonian mechanics is a reformulation of classical mechanics that arises from Lagrangian mechanics and provides a powerful framework for analyzing dynamical systems, particularly in the context of physics and engineering. Developed by William Rowan Hamilton in the 19th century, this approach focuses on energy rather than forces and is intimately related to the principles of symplectic geometry. ### Key Features of Hamiltonian Mechanics 1.
Heisenberg group
The Heisenberg group is a mathematical structure that arises in the context of group theory and analysis, particularly in the study of nilpotent Lie groups and geometric analysis. It is named after the physicist Werner Heisenberg, although its mathematical development is independent of his work in quantum mechanics. The Heisenberg group can be defined in various contexts, such as algebraically, geometrically, or analytically.
Henri Poincaré Prize
The Henri Poincaré Prize is an award given to recognize outstanding achievements in the field of mathematics and theoretical physics, particularly in areas related to the mathematical foundations of science. It is named in honor of the French mathematician and physicist Henri Poincaré, who made significant contributions to various fields, including topology, celestial mechanics, and dynamical systems. The prize is usually awarded during the International Congress on Mathematical Physics (ICMP), which is held every three years.
Hermite transform
The Hermite transform, also known as the Hermite polynomial transform, is a mathematical transform that uses Hermite polynomials as basis functions. Hermite polynomials are a set of orthogonal polynomials that arise in probability, combinatorics, and physics, particularly in the context of quantum mechanics and the study of Gaussian functions.
Holonomic basis
A holonomic basis is a concept in the field of differential geometry and the theory of differential equations, particularly in the study of differential forms and integrability. In a more specific context, a basis of a tangent space in a manifold is said to be holonomic if the basis vectors can be expressed in terms of a coordinate system. This means that the basis elements can be derived from the standard differential of the coordinates.
Hunter–Saxton equation
The Hunter–Saxton equation is a nonlinear partial differential equation that arises in the study of certain physical and mathematical phenomena, particularly in the context of fluid dynamics and optical pulse propagation.
The Infeld–Van der Waerden symbols are a set of mathematical symbols used in the field of algebra, particularly in the context of algebraic geometry and invariant theory. They are named after physicists Leopold Infeld and Bartel van der Waerden, who introduced these symbols to facilitate the notation associated with the transformation properties of certain types of algebraic objects.
Joos–Weinberg equation
The Joos-Weinberg equation is a mathematical expression used in the context of quantum field theory, particularly in the study of particle physics. It is associated with the calculation of certain processes involving electroweak interactions. However, the term is less commonly referenced in the literature compared to other equations and theories in particle physics, such as the Dirac equation or the Standard Model equations.
Jordan map
The term "Jordan map" can refer to different concepts depending on the context in which it is used. However, it is most commonly associated with the Jordan canonical form in linear algebra or the Jordan Curve Theorem in topology. 1. **Jordan Canonical Form**: In linear algebra, the Jordan form is a way of representing a linear operator (or matrix) in an almost diagonal form.
Klein–Gordon equation
The Klein-Gordon equation is a relativistic wave equation for scalar particles, derived from both quantum mechanics and special relativity. It describes the dynamics of a scalar field, which represents a particle of spin-0 (such as a pion or any other fundamental scalar particle).
Koopman–von Neumann classical mechanics is a formalism of classical mechanics that extends traditional Hamiltonian mechanics, providing a framework that emphasizes the use of functional spaces and operators rather than conventional state variables. This approach is rooted in the work of mathematicians and physicists, particularly B.O. Koopman and J. von Neumann, in the 1930s.
Lagrangian (field theory)
In the context of field theory and theoretical physics, the Lagrangian is a mathematical function that encapsulates the dynamics of a system. It is a central concept in the Lagrangian formulation of mechanics, which has been extended to fields in the context of quantum field theory and classical field theory.