346,786 research outputs found
Relational concepts in generalized quantized space
Observations are restricted to the mutual relations between observable phenomena. That is why modern physics is founded on phenomenological physics. Nevertheless, the theoretical framework of phenomenological physics – the description of the basic components and the underlying structure like laws, universal constants and principles – is essential to determine the implications of the basic properties and structure of quantized space
Teaching "Symmetry" in the Introductory Physics Curriculum
Modern physics is largely defined by fundamental symmetry principles and
Noether's Theorem. Yet these are not taught, or rarely mentioned, to beginning
students, thus missing an opportunity to reveal that the subject of physics is
as lively and contemporary as molecular biology, and as beautiful as the arts.
We prescribe a symmetry module to insert into the curriculum, of a week's
length.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure
Particle Physics Instrumentation
This report summarizes a series of three lectures aimed at giving an overview
of basic particle detection principles, the interaction of particles with
matter, the application of these principles in modern detector systems, as well
techniques to read out detector signals in high-rate experiments.Comment: 11 pages, contribution to the 1st Asia-Europe-Pacific School of
High-Energy Physics, Fukuoka, Japan, 14 - 27 Oct 201
Cosmology and New Physics
A comparison of the standard models in particle physics and in cosmology
demonstrates that they are not compatible, though both are well established.
Basics of modern cosmology are briefly reviewed. It is argued that the
measurements of the main cosmological parameters are achieved through many
independent physical phenomena and this minimizes possible interpretation
errors. It is shown that astronomy demands new physics beyond the frameworks of
the (minimal) standard model in particle physics. More revolutionary
modifications of the basic principles of the theory are also discussed.Comment: 37 pages, 5 figures; lectures presented at 9th International Moscow
School of Physics (34th ITEP Winter School
Some beautiful equations of mathematical physics
The basic ideas and the important role of gauge principles in modern
elementary particle physics are outlined. There are three theoretically
consistent gauge principles in quantum field theory: the spin-1 gauge principle
of electromagnetism and the standard model, the spin-2 gauge principle of
general relativity, and the spin-3/2 gauge principle of supergravity. (Dirac
Prize lecture, November 1993. Two figures are unavailable, but should not be
essential.)Comment: 18 page
Symmetries in Physics: Philosophical Reflections
This is the introductive paper to the volume "Symmetries in Physics:
Philosophical Reflections", Cambridge University Press, 2003. We begin with a
brief description of the historical roots and emergence of the concept of
symmetry that is at work in modern physics. Then, in section 2, we mention the
different varieties of symmetry that fall under this general umbrella,
outlining the ways in which they were introduced into physics. We also
distinguish between two different uses of symmetry: symmetry principles versus
symmetry arguments. In section 3 we make some remarks of a general nature
concerning the status and significance of symmetries in physics. Finally, in
section 4, we outline the structure of the book and the contents of each part.Comment: 16 pages. To appear in K. Brading and E. Castellani (eds.),
"Symmetries in Physics: Philosophical Reflections", Cambridge University
Press, 200
Quantum gravity: unification of principles and interactions, and promises of spectral geometry
Quantum gravity was born as that branch of modern theoretical physics that
tries to unify its guiding principles, i.e., quantum mechanics and general
relativity. Nowadays it is providing new insight into the unification of all
fundamental interactions, while giving rise to new developments in modern
mathematics. It is however unclear whether it will ever become a falsifiable
physical theory, since it deals with Planck-scale physics. Reviewing a wide
range of spectral geometry from index theory to spectral triples, we hope to
dismiss the general opinion that the mere mathematical complexity of the
unification programme will obstruct that programme.Comment: This is a contribution to the Proceedings of the 2007 Midwest
Geometry Conference in honor of Thomas P. Branson, published in SIGMA
(Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Applications) at
http://www.emis.de/journals/SIGMA
Tuning of MC generator MPI models
MC models of multiple partonic scattering inevitably introduce many free
parameters, either fundamental to the models or from their integration with MC
treatments of primary-scattering evolution. This non-perturbative and
non-factorisable physics in particular cannot currently be constrained from
theoretical principles, and hence parameter optimisation against experimental
data is required. This process is commonly referred to as MC tuning. We
summarise the principles, problems and history of MC tuning, and the
still-evolving modern approach to both model optimisation and estimation of
modelling uncertainties.Comment: Contributed chapter to "Multiple Parton Interactions at the LHC",
World Scientific 201
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