# All Questions

1k views

### How come a photon acts like it has mass in a superconducting field?

I've heard the Higgs mechanism explained as analogous to the reason that a photon acts like it has mass in a superconducting field. However, that's not too helpful if I don't understand the latter. ...
120 views

### Hypothetical very massive particles

I'm looking for a table or compilation of hypothetical very massive ($m\gtrsim 1$ TeV) particles and their expected masses (or bounds on them or relation with other scales). All I know is (please, ...
222 views

### Do particles gain mass only at energy levels found during the big bang?

I am trying to make sure my understanding is correct. At energies and temperatures found during the big bang (or at CERN recently), the Higgs mechanism comes into effect. When it does, there is a ...
482 views

### Quantum Zeno effect and unstable particles

Is it possible to increase indefinitely the lifetime of unstable particles by applying the quantum Zeno effect? Is there a bound from theoretical principles about the maximum extension one can get in ...
135 views

### From what we know about QM and Elements could we simulate the Universe in a Computer?

From what we know now about Quantum Mechanics and Elements, could we simulate life the Universe at a Quantum to Element level? If we can't assume enough to create a sim, what fundamentals are we ...
433 views

the Lienard-Wiechert green functions have future and past null cones of radiation. Maxwell equations allow for a continuous range of mixtures between the retarded and advanced components, but we have ...
40k views

### How do you start learning physics by yourself? [closed]

I think this question has its place here because I am sure some of you are "self-taught experts" and can guide me a little through this process. Considering that : I don't have any physics scholar ...
348 views

### 4th order feynman-diagrams for $e^- + \mu^+ \to \nu_e + \bar{\nu}_\mu$

The task is to draw the two 4th-order Feynman diagrams of: $$e^- + \mu^+ \to \nu_e + \bar{\nu}_\mu$$ I drew the first one as (time left->right): ...
499 views

### How to calculate temperature and entropy on Schwarzschild-de Sitter space

The cosmological event horizon found in a de Sitter universe has some interesting similarities to that of a black hole. For example, since we can find a temperature at the horizon, we are able to use ...
59k views

### What is a good introductory book on quantum mechanics?

I'm really interested in quantum theory and would like to learn all that I can about it. I've followed a few tutorials and read a few books but none satisfied me completely. I'm looking for ...
451 views

### Reflectance of Titanium as Function of Thin Film Thickness

As far as I know, transmittance equals $e^{-\alpha x}$, where $\alpha$ is absorption coefficient and $x$ is thin film thickness($100-300\,nm$). My team and I have engineered a way to find absorption. ...
110 views

### Randomly sampling a “well-mixed” solution of Brownian particles

I place $N$ Brownian particles in $V$ liters of solution, shake until I assume that the particles are "well-mixed", and sample and randomly sample an $S$ liter volume. What is the probability ...
2k views

### What colour is nothing?

To me this is very confusing, but I hope we can discuss it and find a solid answer to the question. If you were somewhere where there was absolutely nothing, what colour would your eyes see?
402 views

### Some very basic questions on the Higgs Boson

What exactly is a boson? Is the Higgs boson the cause of gravity or a result of it? Does the collision of particles at the LHC create a gravity field or waves or somehow interact with the gravity ...
1k views

### What's the relation between perturbative and nonperturbative QFT?

In case of any miscommunication let me describe my understanding of the meaning of "perturbative" and "non-perturbative", and correct me if something is wrong: In a perturbatively defined QFT the ...
3k views

### Classical and quantum anomalies

I have read about anomalies in different contexts and ways. I would like to read an explanation that unified all these statements or points of view: Anomalies are due to the fact that quantum field ...