# All Questions

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### Lorentz invariance of a frequency- and wavelength- dependent dielectric tensor

Suppose we have a material described by a dielectric tensor $\bar{\epsilon}$. In frequency domain, this tensor depends on the wave frequency $\omega$ and the wave vector $\vec{k}$. Clearly not all ...
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### Why are binary objects so critical to astronomy?

There are a lot of astronomical objects out there to study but binary objects seem to get more attention. Why is this? What makes binary objects (stars, Kuiper Belt Objects, black holes, galaxies, ...
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### Are the Voyager probes still sending us a signal ?

This article reported today, a finding from one of the voyager probes. It talks about magnetic structures at the (far) outer edge of our solar system. Does that mean we're still able to pick up a ...
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### What to show a beginner [closed]

At my new job, it's soon going to be my turn for doing night/graveyard shifts for a fair amount of weeks. Perfect excuse to buy a decent beginners telescope to replace the 4.5" 15 y/o Meade that ...
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### $(\mu,P,T)$ pseudo-ensemble: why is it not a proper thermodynamic ensemble?

While teaching statistical mechanics, and describing the common thermodynamic ensembles (microcanonical, canonical, grand canonical), I usually give a line on why there can be no $(\mu, P, T)$ ...
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### Examples of piecewise smooth dynamical systems [closed]

I have recently been studying continuous dynamical systems whose phase space can be divided into a number of regions. Inside each of these the flow is smooth, but there is a discrete jump in the flow ...
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### Physical Explanation of Being Able to “Think” [closed]

This may look like a philosophical question, but I'm looking for physical explanations (if there's any), that's is why I'm asking it here. What is the ability of thinking? We are all creatures ...
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### What is the mean field value of a scalar field with spontaneously broken symmetry in a scattering event?

Consider you have a quantum field theory that undergoes spontaneous symmetry breaking at some critical temperature. It doesn't necessarily have to be a continuous symmetry that's broken, I don't think ...
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### Is there any interacting quantum field theory of massless spin-1 fields expressed locally entirely in terms of F, with no vector potential?

Is there any interacting quantum field theory of massless fields with helicity $\pm 1$ which can be expressed entirely locally in terms of the field strength Fμν with no reference to vector ...
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### Hydrostatic forces

I've started learning hydro static force system right now. I have problem understanding one thing. In the picture I'm looking for the forces on the black lines: A part is making the purple force above ...
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### When a high speed neutrino just misses an old neutron star, why isn't it trapped?

Suppose a neutrino is seen travelling so fast that its Lorentz gamma factor is 100,000. It races past an old, no longer active neutron star, narrowly missing it. As far as the neutrino is concerned, ...
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### How is/do they plan on having fusion energy collected at the National Ignition Facility?

I was just watching a program on television showing how the method they use at the National Ignition Facility to attempt to achieve fusion is to fire extremely powerful lasers at a small pellet of ...
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### Systematic approach to deriving equations of collective field theory to any order

The collective field theory (see nLab for a list of main historical references) which came up as a generalization of the Bohm-Pines method in treating plasma oscillations are often used in the study ...