All Questions

652 views

Energy Measurements in a Two Fermion Double Well System

This question is related but my question here is much more elementary than discussions of the Pauli principle across the universe. There has been a fair amount of discussion around at the moment on ...
313 views

How can I subtract Spectra?

I am writing an application that should allow to view and manipulate spectra (Raman). I am only given one normal spectrum consisting of 1024 coordinate points. Plus I have a background spectrum that ...
747 views

On what basis do we trust Conservation of Energy?

I'm happy to accept and use conservation of energy when I'm solving problems at Uni, but I'm curious about it to. For all of my adult life, and most of my childhood I've been told this law must hold ...
192 views

Are electrons in different energy levels considered identical?

In QM we require that the state that describes the system, an atom say, be symmetric or antisymmetric under permuting the identical particles. What identical particles are we talking about here, all ...
120 views

Can unbound electrons jump energy levels?

If an unbound electron (or indeed any charged particle) is moving through free space, is there a probability that it can spontaneously change energy by emitting a photon, or does this require the ...
971 views

Newton's corpuscular theory

Where did Newton get the idea that light had a particle nature and not a wave nature? At those times, AFAICT there were no phenomena that showed particle nature. But wave nature is much easier to ...
98 views

Measure of Lee-Yang zeros

Consider a statistical mechanical system (say the 1D Ising model) on a finite lattice of size $N$, and call the corresponding partition function (as a function of, say, real temperature and real ...
114 views

Question about interaction between three objects

I have been thinking of Newton (insert bad words because of frustration) laws for hours and hours today, and I'm not going anywhere. I'm going insane! So, I made up this question. Object A | ...
209 views

How to find the value of the parameter a in this transfer function? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: How to find the value of the parameter $a$ in this transfer function? I am given a transfer function of a second-order system as: $$G(s)=\frac{a}{s^{2}+4s+a}$$ and I ...
129 views

The difference between projection operators and field operators in QFT?

Is there a good reference for the distinction between projection operators in QFT, with an eigenvalue spectrum of $\{1,0\}$, representing yes/no measurements, the prototype of which is the Vacuum ...
83 views

How to find the value of the parameter $a$ in this transfer function?

I am given a transfer function of a second-order system as: $$G(s)=\frac{a}{s^{2}+4s+a}$$ and I need to find the value of the parameter $a$ that will make the damping coefficient $\zeta=.7$. I am not ...
94 views

Can you safely draw sparks from the nose of an electrified boy?

From Purcell's Electricity and Magnetism A spectacular conclusion of one of the popular exhibitions of the time was likely to be the electrification of a boy suspended by many silk threads ...
622 views

Two objects exert forces on each other, will the reactions affect them?

Two objects go in against each other, and then they collide, will object 1, exerting force 1, necessarily get on it a reaction equal in magnitude and opposite in direction? EDIT:- In my book it only ...
773 views

Can we determine the force an object exerts by its mass and acceleration?

I understand that the objects acceleration is determined by the force exerted on it, and that the force exerted on it is determined by its acceleration. But, does an object's (named A) acceleration ...
79 views

Have scientists been able to find an example of a possible White Hole?

We went to a planetarium last night last night and watched "Black Holes" narrated by Liam Neeson. If I recall correctly, he said that scientists believe that they have identified a number of Black ...
441 views

How does smoke move in the air and how can I direct it so it will go to a place I want it to go?

Let's assume a close room with 1-2 people who only one of them smoking cigarette. What is the equation describe the smoking spreading? is it diffusion? what are the parameters is so? Is there a ...
94 views

Renormalization of the R-charge?

In general I would like to know as to known or what is/are the standard references about R-charge renormalization in supersymmetric theories. When does it do so and what is expected or known to be ...
142 views

Thought experiment with entangled electrons

Suppose we start out by having two entangled electrons. We separate them by some distance and we put one electron inside a thin loop of wire connected to an extremely sensitive voltage measuring ...
524 views

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In what position can a current-carrying loop of wire be located in a magnetic field so that it doesn't tend to rotate?

I understand that if the wire is not aligned with the magnetic field, it won't rotate, but I'm still confused on how so. Also, which direction is the current flowing?
318 views

Is the electron wave function defined during photon emission

I have heard the term quantum leap to describe the (instantaneous?) transition from a higher energy orbital to a lower energy orbital. Yet, I understand that this transition time has now been ...
300 views

Kramer's-Kronig relations for the electron Self-Energy Σ

I'm currently studying an article by Maslov, in particular the first section about higher corrections to Fermi-liquid behavior of interacting electron systems. Unfortunately, I've hit a snag when ...
191 views

What is the mathematics behind artificially generated plasmas via electric fields?

The ionization degree of a plasma is given by the Saha equation, which depends on the temperature and the particle specific ionization energy. In thermal equilibrium, the relation between ionization ...
46 views

Unknown quantum state with promise of classical data

I am trying to solve a problem in the measurement and identification of quantum states with a promise as to what states it could be. Here is the problem. Imagine a system that produces qubits in ...
75 views

Formula for potential for 2 coaxial tubes

Could someone remind me of the formula for potential function for a system consisting of 2 coaxial tubes maintained at a fixed potential difference and the in between medium has uniform conductivity ...
309 views

Double image in binoculars

How can I reduce the double image seen when looking through binoculars? I recently got a new pair, but have been having troubles using them because I am seeing double...
38 views

A nice overview (and maybe derivation) of the Poincaré transformations of the Vector Spherical Harmonics

With $Y_{lm}(\vartheta,\varphi)$ being the Spherical Harmonics and $z_l^{(j)}(r)$ being the Spherical Bessel functions ($j=1$), Neumann functions ($j=2$) or Hankel functions ($j=3,4$) defining ...
340 views

Question involving Vectors and Forces

This is a question I found in Mechanics for Engineers by Beer & Johnston. A 600-lb crate is supported by the rope and pulley arrangement as shown below. Write a computer program which can be ...
2k views

Why is oxygen in a triplet state and what are the consequences?

From Wikipedia here and here: ''Almost all molecules encountered in daily life exist in a singlet state, but molecular oxygen is an exception.'' ''The unusual electron configuration prevents ...
344 views

Quantum perpetual motion

Perpetual motion describes hypothetical machines that operate or produce useful work indefinitely and, more generally, hypothetical machines that produce more work or energy than they consume, ...
364 views

What's the importance of Noether's theorem in Physics

The Noether's theorem that I want to mention is the following: Noether's theorem. I know the importance of Noether's contribution to modern algebra. Can anyone write about Noether's theorem in ...
3k views

Are all metals good conductor of electricity?

I am writing an article for kids, which is on conductors and insulators of electricity. If I make a statement that "All metals are electrical conductors and all non-metals are electrical insulators" ...
526 views

Oil drop experiment--How was the result so accurate?

I remember while learning about Millikan's oil drop experiment and being pretty skeptical about the setup. I know that there is a lot of controversy regarding manipulation of data, but the fact is; he ...
471 views

Good theoretical physics introduction for 6 year old very advanced in math? [duplicate]

I think now is a good time to introduce my son to theoretical physics. He asks so many questions about the universe, black holes, gravity, atoms, molecules, light, etc. He's borderline obsessed with ...
If I'm not wrong, a bra, $\langle \phi_n |$, can be thought as a linear functional that when applied to a ket vector, $| \phi_m \rangle$, returns a complex number; that is, the inner product it's a ...