Math Needed to Study Physics of Loop QG, ST, QED/CD & GR

[greghouse]

Hi! This is a question for the physicists. What types of math do I need to study the physics of ... let's say loop quantum gravity, string theory, quantum electro dynamics/ chromodynamics and general relativity on the basic level?

Tnx

 

[will.c]

All of it.

 

[quasar987]

Notice he's asking on a basic level. At least number theory is not required on a basic level.

My advice would be to pick up elementary textbooks on each of these subjects and skim through them to see what you need. In some cases, the math you need will be covered in the book itself.

For instance, check out Griffiths for particle physics, Zwiebach for string theory, for quantum field theory, I don't know what the most basic text is, for general relativity, there are many choices, two that come to mind are Carroll and Schutz. Loop quantum gravity is less popular a theory, so I doubt there is an elementary text about that. I suspect a strong understanding of general relativity and quantum field theory is required for even the most elementary study.

 

[Crosson]

The foundation is calculus, and then differential equations.

 

[jtbell]

What types of math do I need

What math do you know already?

 

[greghouse]

What math do you know already?

It's hard to compare the swedish math education to the american. I don't know how much calculus I know for instance compared to what year of college/ high school in US. But derivatives, integrals, differential equation, complex numbers (don't know if what i read qualifies as complex analysis), very basic linear algebra, three-variable calculus... Stuff like that. I don't, for instance, know what rings and fields are.