I think this very much depends on the field you're working in. In String Theory, for example, it is really not that unusual to have around 5 papers published before graduation and some people really manage as much as 8-9 (even with a 3 year long PhD). But even in String Theory it depends pretty...
Well there's quite a lot of Algebraic Geometry in String Theory (especially if you're interested in Calabi-Yau compactifications and Mirror Symmetry) and also there are some concepts that are nicely formulated in terms of Category Theory (D-Branes, Topological Field Theories or also this...
What kind of questions should one expect on an interview for a PhD position (in Europe = starting with research right away)? I guess it will be the usual stuff, as what projects I've been working on, what topic I would be interested in at their institution,etc..., but should I also expect some...
I subscribe to every single word Haelfix wrote. Exactly the same experience in my case - I've been doing a lot of math during my studies, including Functional Analysis, Differential Geometry,... and I was very keen to understand the mathematical structure of QFT. I spent a lot of time trying to...
I don't understand why everyone has the urge to list Measure Theory and Functional Analysis as a prerequisite to QM. Unless you're doing some hardcore mathematical quantum mechanics course, which I would estimate 99% of QM students/practitioners haven't taken, the only thing you'll need and use...
I'm currently in the process of deciding where to go for my PhD studies (in Europe, i.e. I already have a masters, PhD is then just research).
I wonder what are the criteria I should consider when making the decision?
Of course active research in the area I want to study is in the first place...
If you want to do particle physics/atomic physics, then there are a couple of courses you could take. Concerning math, you should consider especially group theory and in particular representation theory, which is inevitable in elementary particle physics. The stuff you'll need is representation...
So what exactly do you want to study? Are you just starting with calculus and want to prepare for Differential Geometry?
Rudin's Real and Complex Analysis is an advanced book treating subjects like Measure Theory, Integration, some basics of Functional Analysis and quite a deal of Complex...
The complexified Lie algebra of the Lorentz group can be written as a direct sum of two commuting complexified Lie algebras of SU(2).
It is being said, that this enables us to classify the irreducible representations of the Lorentz algebra with two half-integers (m,n). But can someone...
Hi,
I'm currently one of the organizers of a seminar for talented high school students in my home town and one my task for the next session is to give a brief talk on some interesting subject in (theoretical) physics, with a discussion afterwards, where the students will participate. It...
I wouldn't rely on physics courses. Some Lie group/algebra theory is usually covered in a good QFT course, but you essentially just learn what the representations of the SU(n) groups are. The most beautiful thing on Lie groups - the geometric picture - is rarely covered.
I also doubt that...
What are the specializations you can choose? Something like Electromaterial engineering would be the most related, or generally something with a strong emphasis on physics and especially on condensed matter physics and also on computational methods used there.
I have two questions:
1. What is the average number of credits one takes per semester in Grad school in the US? To be more precise: how many courses does one usually take per semester and how many hours of lectures/tutorials does it correspond to weekly?
2. What is the distribution of grades in...
I think so too. I mean, almost every scientific publication that has any relevance today is being written (also) in english. Only if you're interested in some specific field and know that some country has particularly good reputation in that field (and you could possibly visit that country for a...