Archive of posts in category “physics”
The notational convenience of imaginary time in the derivation of the metric in Poincaré coordinates
In general relativity, people usually choose one of the two major metric signatures. However, in certain cases, the imaginary time convention can be more convenient. Here is one of such cases: the derivation of the metric in Poincaré coordinates for the anti-de Sitter space.
- Categories: physics
- Tags: general relativity, ads space
The smallest wave packet in the lowest Landau level
The smallest wave packet in the lowest Landau level exists, and is a Gaussian wave packet. This turns out to be related to the coherent state of the harmonic oscillator.
- Categories: physics
- Tags: quantum mechanics, condensed matter physics
Regularizing the partition function of a hydrogen atom
The partition function of a hydrogen atom diverges (only considering bound states). However, we can regularize it to get finite answers. Different regularizations give the same result. They largely agree with the physical arguments for the case of the hydrogen atom at room or cold temperature, but this should be considered a mere coincidence. The results from regularized partition functions cannot generally be trusted.
- Categories: physics
- Tags: statistical mechanics, complex, regularization, long paper
The duality between two plane trajectories related by a conformal map
The conformal map transforms the trajectory with energy in potential into the trajectory with energy in potential . I will prove this beautiful result and show some implications of it.
- Categories: physics
- Tags: complex, classical mechanics, canonical transformation, kepler problem, mathematical physics, vector analysis, long paper
You can replace with in the Schrödinger equation?
When someone asks you why it is here instead of or the other way around, you can say that this is just a convention. My professor of quantum mechanics once asked the class similar a question, and I replied with this letter.
- Categories: physics
- Tags: quantum mechanics, letter, complex
A measure-theoretic formulation of statistical ensembles (part 2)
For sake of rigor and generalizability, I feel it necessary to try to have a mathematical formulation for statistical ensembles. I chose measure spaces as the underlying mathematical structure of thermal systems and tried to justify the method of statistical ensembles by deducing them from some axioms.
- Categories: physics
- Tags: mathematical physics, statistical mechanics, functional analysis, measure theory, probability, long paper
A measure-theoretic formulation of statistical ensembles (part 1)
For sake of rigor and generalizability, I feel it necessary to try to have a mathematical formulation for statistical ensembles. I chose measure spaces as the underlying mathematical structure of thermal systems and tried to justify the method of statistical ensembles by deducing them from some axioms.
- Categories: physics
- Tags: mathematical physics, statistical mechanics, functional analysis, measure theory, probability, long paper
Even solutions to bound states in an odd number of potential wells
We try solving the even function solutions to the time-independent Schrödinger equation for the potential such that (bound states).
- Categories: physics
- Tags: from zhihu, quantum mechanics
Defend our earth against aliens’ bullets!
The aliens intiated their attack to the earth! They shoot bullets with mass and speed from a far-awar planet. To defend, humans built a field that can repel the bullets. What regions are safe? The answer turns out to be the interior of a circular paraboloid.
- Categories: physics
- Tags: calculus, classical mechanics, kepler problem, from zhihu
How to construct mechanics in higher dimensions?
We can derive the equation of motion for mechanical systems in a Galileo universe with time dimensions and space dimensions by generalizing the principle of relativity and Hamilton’s principle.
- Categories: physics
- Tags: from zhihu, classical mechanics, imagination