# All Questions

434 views

### Is there some sort of Pati-Salam model with mixed generations?

The evidence for an approximate "lepton as fourth colour" symmetry is so overhelming in the particle spectrum that Hanlon's razor does not seem to apply. Still, my own incompetence fails to recognise ...
113 views

### Terminology for opposite null lines

Is there a name for two null lines that lie on the opposite sides of the null cone? Each line can be obtained from the other by reflection in the axis of the null cone (the time-axis). In terms of ...
5k views

### Is there a small enough planet or asteroid you can orbit by jumping?

I just had this idea of orbiting a planet just by jumping and then flying upon it on its orbit kind of like superman. So, Would it be theoretically possible or is there a chance of that small body to ...
387 views

### Harmonic oscillator and Lorentz symmetry

There is a analog between harmonic oscillator $x=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\omega}}(a+a^\dagger)$ and quantum field $\phi=\int dp^3\frac{1}{(2\pi)^3}\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\omega_p}}(a_p e^{ipx}+a^\dagger e^{-ipx})$, ...
326 views

### The strong Markov property of Gibbs measures in 2D Ising Model

My background is that of a mathematician. I have a question about the two Dimensional Ising Model. I think the terminology I use is similar to the physical. I'm trying to understand the following ...
131 views

### Does the attached “poster” work as a hook into the arXiv paper cited, “Nonlinear Wightman fields”? [closed]

"Nonlinear Wightman fields" are my current response to a wish to do interacting quantum field theory differently, no matter how successful what we currently do may be. The following image of a single ...
868 views

### A point in multiple magnetic fields

Given two parallel wires carrying a current (e.g. 2 and 3 Amperes) and the distance between them, 5 cm, how do I determine the magnitude of the magnetic field at a point M mid-distance between the ...
813 views

### Spontaneous symmetry breaking in SU(5) GUT?

At the end of this video lecture about grand unified theories, Prof. Susskind explains that there should be some kind of an additional Higgs mechanism at work, to break the symmetry between the ...
307 views

### How is it possible for an Ultrasound device to correctly interpret a negative density change in tissue?

I understand the principles of Ultrasound Imaging, and the mathematics behind sonar velocity, impedance, and reflection. I also understand that an Ultrasound device recieves an echo produced by ...
2k views

### Maxwell's Correction to Ampere's Law

I have not yet officially studied Electromagnetism but am trying to teach myself at the moment. I understand Maxwell's equations in the context of Magneto- and Electrostatics: they are equivalent, ...
1k views

### Colors in the secondary rainbow reverse of that in the primary rainbow

Why the colors of Secondary rainbow is reverse of that in the color in the Primary rainbow? What can be the possible reason among the following options Because it is formed by one internal ...
12k views

### Rough, easy DIY method of measuring magnetic field strength

How to easily, using standard DIY equipment measure the strength of magnetic field generated by a permanent magnet? Narrowing down the "loose language" of the above: strength of magnetic field: ...
224 views

### “Inverted” quantum oscillator

I'm trying to understand the problem of the "inverted" oscillator, which has the following Hamiltonian: $$\hat{H}=\frac{\hat{p}^{2}}{2m}-\frac{k\hat{x}^{2}}{2}$$ Suppose that a particle at the ...
534 views

441 views

### General question on aligning a quantization axis

I have a general question on how to work with quantization axis. Here is the setup: I am looking at a single two-level atom placed at the origin $(0, 0, 0)$, which is unperturbed in the sense that ...
12k views

### Does glass get stronger the longer its under water?

I was reading the internets and I saw an image of of random facts. Yes, I know, its a humor site, but based on the image item #23 I have some questions. Does glass really get stronger the longer its ...
194 views

### How is wavefunction probability redistributed after partial wavefunction collapse?

Suppose I set up the double-slit experiment using photons as my particle. Behind the left slit I place a beam splitter that points some of the light off in the direction of a camera (represented as ...
2k views

### The Four-Clock Special Relativity Conundrum

Two open-car trains approach each other at fixed velocities. Each has a radar to see how quickly the other train is approaching, but apart from that the trains have no a priori knowledge of each ...
193 views

### Why can we not reduce the size of a system below the correlation length without qualitatively changing its properties?

This question is posed in the context of thermodynamics/statistical mechanics. Suppose we define the correlation length as the $\xi$ in the exponential factor $e^{-r/\xi}$ that appears in the ...
980 views

### Conservation of Energy in a Capacitor

Consider a parallel-plate capacitor in free space. A negatively charged point particle with initial velocity $v$ passes through the space between the pair of parallel plates (with an initial path ...
785 views

### What happens to the wavelength/frequency of a photon as it passes through an event horizon?

I've asked a similar question about photons and black holes but wanted to rephrase it more specifically, so here goes... Ever since I learned how a photon's wavelength and frequency are indivisibly ...
234 views

### Braess's Paradox in Electrical Circuits

According to this and other similar papers, http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v352/n6337/abs/352699a0.html, adding a current-carrying path can increase the voltage drop across a circuit. What is ...
4k views

### Delta Dirac Charge Density question

I have to write an expression for the charge density $\rho(\vec{r})$ of a point charge $q$ at $\vec{r}^{\prime}$, ensuring that the volume integral equals $q$. The only place any charge exists is at ...
687 views

### Spin-orbit coupling constant for rubidium

I have come across the following question in my course notes: The $5s\to 5p$ transition in rubidium is split into two components with wavelengths of 780nm and 795nm respectively. For the $5p$ state, ...
960 views

### Is the proper interpretation of temperature missing in this book?

In Randall T. Knight’s textbook “Physics for Scientists and Engineers” in the first chapter on thermodynamics (Ch. 16: A Macroscopic Description of Matter) one of the first conceptual questions is ...
5k views

### Is the wave-particle duality a real duality?

I often hear about the wave-particle duality, and how particles exhibit properties of both particles and waves. I most recently heard this in this video. However, I wonder; is this actually a duality? ...
235 views

### Impact of LHC on other science and technologies, in particular on mathematics?

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) "remains one of the largest and most complex experimental facilities ever built" (Wikipedia); it may even be the most complex project in humankind's history (?). Such ...
439 views

### System with no entanglement but consuming quantum discord

I have come across an article which talks about quantum discord (Observing the operational significance of discord consumption. M. Gu et al. Nature Physics 8, 671–675 (2012) doi:10.1038/nphys2376), ...
2k views

### Averaging decibels

Wikipedia: The decibel (dB) is a logarithmic unit that indicates the ratio of a physical quantity (usually power or intensity) relative to a specified or implied reference level. If I ...
1k views

### Expectation value of time-dependent Hamiltonian

I'm trying to solve a problem in QM with a forced quantum oscillator. In this problem I have a quantum oscillator, which is in the ground state initially. At $t=0$, the force $F(t)=F_0 \sin(\Omega t)$ ...
287 views

### What's the deal with the gyroscope?

In this article ("The problem with physics", Tony Rothman, ABC science) the author says in the 5$^\textrm{th}$ paragraph: For example, one needs only first-semester equations to describe ...
431 views

### How much of theoretical physics research involves contemplation and reflection? [closed]

Something I do when I'm learning physics is to contemplate and put into perspective the stuff that I've learned. I often find that I stumble upon deeper or more subtle questions and issues when I do ...
3k views

### Partition function of bosons vs fermions

I have two atoms, both of which are either bosons or fermions, with four allowed energy states: $E_1 = 0$, $E_2 = E$, $E_3 = 2E$, with degeneracies 1, 1, 2 respectively. What's the difference between ...
494 views

### Crucial Misconceptions about The Universe [closed]

So I am piecing together a school project on the numerous misconceptions of the universe, which I plan to "provide proof against them" with information from various sources (one of the main ones will ...
7k views

### Acceleration of two falling objects with identical form and air drag but different masses

I have a theoretical question that has been bugging me and my peers for weeks now - and we have yet to settle on a concrete answer. Imagine two balloons, one is filled with air, one with concrete. ...
506 views

### How are forces related to decays?

How are decays related to forces, what is meant by particle X decays through the, say, strong force? The way I understand forces is by how they change the acceleration of particles with the right ...
259 views

### Constant volume specific heat

A monatomic ideal gas is confined to move in two dimensions. What is the constant volume specific heat for this gas? Consider a system of N independent harmonic oscillators moving in two dimensions. ...
1k views

### How do I calculate the probability that the oscillator is in a certain state using partition function?

So let's say I have a single ($N=1$) quantum harmonic oscillator and the energy is determined by $E_n = (n + 1/2) \cdot \hbar \omega$ (where $n$ is the quantum number and $n$ = $0, 1, 2, \ldots$) ...
169 views

### Why is energy-momentum 4-vector so much easier to explore/observe than spacetime 4-vector

I have read that spacetime 4-vector is quite difficult to observe/explore and that energy-momentum 4-vector is much more appropriate for CERN etc. Why is that? Could anyone give me a brief ...
107 views

### What's the point in shooting down space debris? [closed]

From this news item on a planned North Korean satellite launch comes the quote: The Japanese government has pledged to shoot down any debris that falls over its territory. To me, that sounds ...
125 views

### What is Z3 exciton?

I am searching and studying excitons and I confronted with a term named Z3 exciton. What is it? And what is its difference with, for instance Z1 or Z2 exciton?
724 views

### How much of the universe is observable at visible wavelengths?

Knowing that: The Zone of Avoidance (Looking towards the center of the Milky Way) blocks roughly 20% Each Milky Way star has an angular size, depending on proximity, that obscures a certain ...
235 views

### Origin of exchage interactions

Can someone explain to me the origin of the exchange interaction between two electrically charged spin 1/2 fermions? Quantitative or qualitative accepted.
906 views

### Can a deformable object “swim” in curved space-time? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Swimming in Spacetime - apparent conserved quantity violation It is well known that a deformable object can perform a finite rotation in space by performing deformations ...
706 views

### Two photons of different frequencies collide to create electron and positron

A photon of frequency f, and another of frequency f' (take f' as given) collide to create an electron-positron pair. The frequency f is such that when the collision is head on, there is exactly enough ...
466 views

### Higher dimension operator in free Dirac Lagrangian

When discussing higher dimensional operators in a theory with fermions, why do I never see anyone ever talk about the dimension five operator $\partial_\mu\bar\psi\partial^\mu\psi$? How does the ...
3k views

### What matter in the original atom bomb is converted to energy?

When an atom bomb goes off some matter is converted to energy according to $E = m c^2$. I'd like to know exactly what matter in the original atom bomb is converted to energy. Is it protons, neutrons, ...