Lagrangian mechanics
Lagrangian mechanics is a formulation of classical mechanics that uses the principle of least action to describe the motion of objects. Developed by the mathematician Joseph-Louis Lagrange in the 18th century, this approach reformulates Newtonian mechanics, providing a powerful and elegant framework for analyzing mechanical systems.
Laguerre transform
The Laguerre transform is a mathematical transform that is closely related to the concept of orthogonal polynomials, specifically the Laguerre polynomials. It is often used in various fields such as probability theory, signal processing, and applied mathematics due to its properties in representing functions and handling certain types of problems.
Laplace transform
The Laplace transform is a powerful integral transform used in various fields of engineering, physics, and mathematics to analyze and solve differential equations and system dynamics. It converts a function of time, typically denoted as \( f(t) \), which is often defined for \( t \geq 0 \), into a function of a complex variable \( s \), denoted as \( F(s) \).
Legendre transformation
The Legendre transformation is a mathematical operation used primarily in convex analysis and optimization, as well as in physics, particularly in thermodynamics and mechanics. It allows one to convert a function of one set of variables into a function of another set, changing the viewpoint on how the variables are related.
Lie algebra extension
In the context of mathematics, particularly in the study of Lie algebras, an **extension** refers to a way of constructing a new Lie algebra from a given Lie algebra by adding extra structure.
Lorentz transformation
The Lorentz transformation is a set of equations in the theory of special relativity that relate the space and time coordinates of two observers moving at constant velocity relative to each other. Named after the Dutch physicist Hendrik Lorentz, these transformations are essential for understanding how measurements of time and space change for observers in different inertial frames of reference, particularly when approaching the speed of light.
Lyapunov vector
A Lyapunov vector is a mathematical concept used in the study of dynamical systems, particularly in the context of stability analysis and the behavior of differential equations. Lyapunov vectors are related to Lyapunov exponents, which measure the rate of separation of infinitesimally close trajectories of a dynamical system. When analyzing the stability of a fixed point or equilibrium of a dynamical system, Lyapunov exponents help quantify the growth or decay rates of perturbations around that point.
Magnus expansion
The Magnus expansion is a mathematical technique used in the field of differential equations and quantum mechanics to solve time-dependent problems involving linear differential equations. Specifically, it is often applied to systems governed by operators that evolve in time, which is particularly relevant in quantum mechanics for the evolution of state vectors and operators. In essence, the Magnus expansion provides a way to express the time-evolution operator \( U(t) \), which describes how a state changes over time under the influence of a Hamiltonian or other operator.
The electromagnetic field is fundamentally described by the framework of classical electromagnetic theory, particularly through Maxwell's equations. These equations encapsulate how electric and magnetic fields interact with each other and with charges.
The mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics describes physical systems in terms of abstract mathematical structures and principles. The two primary formulations of quantum mechanics are the wave mechanics formulated by Schrödinger and the matrix mechanics developed by Heisenberg, which were later unified in the framework of quantum theory.
Matrix product state
A Matrix Product State (MPS) is a mathematical representation commonly used in quantum physics and quantum computing to describe quantum many-body systems. It provides an efficient way to represent and manipulate states of quantum systems that may have an exponentially large dimension in the standard basis. ### Description An MPS is expressed as a product of matrices, which allows for the encoding of quantum states in a way that maintains a manageable computational complexity.
Mirror symmetry (string theory)
Mirror symmetry is a concept in string theory and algebraic geometry that primarily relates to the duality between certain types of Calabi-Yau manifolds. It originated from the study of string compactifications, particularly in the context of Type IIA and Type IIB string theories.
Mirror symmetry conjecture
The Mirror Symmetry Conjecture is a key concept in the field of string theory and algebraic geometry. It suggests a surprising duality between two different types of geometric objects known as Calabi-Yau manifolds. Here’s a breakdown of the main ideas behind the conjecture: 1. **Calabi-Yau Manifolds:** These are special types of complex shapes that are important in string theory, particularly in compactifications of extra dimensions.
Moyal product
The Moyal product is a mathematical operation used in the framework of phase space formulation of quantum mechanics, particularly in the context of deformation quantization. It allows one to define a product of functions on phase space that encapsulates the non-commutativity of quantum mechanics in a way that is analogous to the multiplication of classical observables. In classical mechanics, the observable quantities are usually functions on phase space, and the product of two observables is simply their pointwise product.
Multiple-scale analysis
Multiple-scale analysis, also known as multiscale analysis, is a mathematical and analytical framework used to study phenomena that exhibit behavior on different spatial or temporal scales. This approach is particularly useful in various fields, including physics, engineering, biology, and applied mathematics, where systems show complex behaviors that cannot be properly understood by focusing solely on a single scale.
Nahm equations
The Nahm equations are a set of differential equations that describe the behavior of certain types of mathematical and physical objects, particularly in the context of supersymmetry and gauge theory. They were introduced by Werner Nahm in the context of solitons and are particularly relevant in the study of BPS (Bogomolny-Prasad-Sommerfield) states in supersymmetric theories.
Nambu mechanics
Nambu mechanics is a theoretical framework in classical mechanics that generalizes the standard Hamiltonian and Lagrangian methods. It was developed by Yasunori Nambu in the 1970s as a way to describe systems with constraints and to deal with more complex types of motion. In Nambu mechanics, the equations of motion are formulated using a Nambu bracket, which is an extension of the Poisson bracket used in Hamiltonian mechanics.
Non-linear sigma model
A non-linear sigma model is a type of quantum field theory that describes fields taking values in a target manifold, typically a curved space. These models are particularly important in theoretical physics and have applications in various areas, such as condensed matter physics, high-energy particle physics, and statistical mechanics.
Numerical analytic continuation
Numerical analytic continuation is a technique used in numerical analysis to extend the domain of a function beyond its originally available data points. Specifically, it refers to methods aimed at recovering the values of a function in a region where it is not directly computable or where only a limited set of points is known. This is particularly relevant when dealing with functions that are difficult to evaluate at certain points, such as complex functions.
"Nuts and bolts" in the context of general relativity typically refers to the fundamental concepts, principles, and mathematical tools that form the foundation of the theory. General relativity, formulated by Albert Einstein in 1915, is a cornerstone of modern physics that describes gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy.