Relation between statistics and theoretical physics

[Jianphys17]

Hi at all, maybe it's a bit trivial. However, the question that i ask myself is ; that relation there is between statistics-probab theory & theoretical physics. What role does it play in theoretical research ?

(apart from the probabilistic amplitudes encountered in qm)

Thanks for the answers

 

[DrClaude]

Statistical physics. For any sufficiently big system, exact answers are impossible and one cannily can only calculate the behaviour of the system on average.

 

[sophiecentaur]

and one cannily calculate

lovely typo.(?)
North East England dialect word meaning various things - including 'cleverly'

 

[ZapperZ]

Hi at all, maybe it's a bit trivial. However, the question that i ask myself is ; that relation there is between statistics-probab theory & theoretical physics. What role does it play in theoretical research ?

(apart from the probabilistic amplitudes encountered in qm)

Thanks for the answers

First of all, I see a lot of possibility that there is a misunderstanding here, both on your part, and on my part in reading this.

The reason for this is that I have found that a lot of people don't quite have a clear idea of what is "theoretical physics", confusing it with being confined to just "String, GUT, TOE, elementary particles". In reality, "theoretical physics" is actually a vague area, because ANY area of physics, including "applied" ones, have theoretical components. This means that "statistical physics" can also already be a subset of this "theoretical physics", which makes the question rather puzzling. It is like asking if the aorta valve has any role to play in the human body. So this is something I am not sure that everyone who brings up the phrase "theoretical physics" is aware of.

Secondly, upon re-read your post, I am wondering if you actually mean "statistical analysis", i.e. the methodology, rather than the subject area.

Without a clear idea of the actual question and the actual intent of the question, I don't know if any clear answer can be given.

Zz.

 

[DrClaude]

lovely typo.(?)
North East England dialect word meaning various things - including 'cleverly'

Arg, darn autocorrect (and me typing too fast, not hitting the keys in the right order). That should have been "can only".

 

[Jianphys17]

First of all, I see a lot of possibility that there is a misunderstanding here, both on your part, and on my part in reading this.

The reason for this is that I have found that a lot of people don't quite have a clear idea of what is "theoretical physics", confusing it with being confined to just "String, GUT, TOE, elementary particles". In reality, "theoretical physics" is actually a vague area, because ANY area of physics, including "applied" ones, have theoretical components. This means that "statistical physics" can also already be a subset of this "theoretical physics", which makes the question rather puzzling. It is like asking if the aorta valve has any role to play in the human body. So this is something I am not sure that everyone who brings up the phrase "theoretical physics" is aware of.

Secondly, upon re-read your post, I am wondering if you actually mean "statistical analysis", i.e. the methodology, rather than the subject area.

Without a clear idea of the actual question and the actual intent of the question, I don't know if any clear answer can be given.

Zz.

Oh, sorry, for statistics, i mean Statistical math along the probability theory ..

 

[sophiecentaur]

Arg, darn autocorrect (and me typing too fast, not hitting the keys in the right order). That should have been "can only".

A real 'monkeys and typewriters' one. How nice.

 

[Jianphys17]

A real 'monkeys and typewriters' one. How nice.