Questions tagged [terminology]
Use this for questions relating to the proper use of physics terminology or nomenclature.
2,321 questions
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What is an alternative name to use for the Stark effect? [closed]
The Stark effect describes the change of energy levels (or transition frequencies between atomic states) in an atom under the influence of an electric field (Wikipedia, Stark effect). While Johannes ...
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What are Schrödinger’s kittens?
In quantum physics, what are “cat states” and “kitten states”, and how are they different from each other?
(These terms are used in dozens of journal papers.)
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What kind of subspace is this?
(Original title "When is a subspace called real?" was changed after discussion)
This is perhaps partly about math terminology, but the situation often occurs in physics so I'd like to know ...
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What is DPWA in the PDG and how does it work?
The PDG lists among others the N1675. Under the column Tecn we mainly find DPWA which I assume is some kind of partial wave analysis. What is it and how does it work?
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Mathematicians’ vs. Physicists’ Perspective on Vector Components [closed]
This is how I believe the argument should be presented to a first-year physics student.
In a nutshell, physicists tend to view a vector as an $n$-tuple characterized by its transformation properties, ...
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Explain the phrase "to find dark matter in the sieve"
I need to translate an article: https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.06487.
In this document on page 8 there's a phrase:
"Authors argued that since any viable metric theory of gravity finds dark matter in ...
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What is the difference between an ultraviolet limit and ultraviolet stability?
One common way to analyze a quantum field theory is to regularize it by introducing an ultraviolet cutoff. After perhaps renormalizing the theory, one would hope that you can remove the cutoff by ...
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Fixed vs free ends in 1D standing waves
In introductory physics courses one often discusses standing waves on a string with two fixed ends. A standard experimental demonstration of this is given here.
My problem is that in such a ...
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Convention when saying "the plot of A vs B" [closed]
I am a high school student and as I've seen so far when referring to plots of two quantities A vs B, it is usually that the quantity A is on the $y$-axis and the quantity B is on the $x$-axis. Take ...
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What is quantized/discrete in quantum mechanics? [duplicate]
When one quantizes a classical theory, one usually turns variables into operators and tries to find a canonical commutator relation that in some limit ($\hbar \rightarrow 0$) recovers the classical ...
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Is there a name for the angular momentum tensor built from the canonically conjugate momentum for a charged particle?
The canonically conjugate momentum for a particle charged under a local $U(1)$ gauge group is
$$
p^\mu = P^\mu+e A^\mu
$$
with $A^\mu$ the coordinates of the four potential a.k.a the $\mathfrak{u}(1)$...
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Why do we name and separate invisible bands even though the whole EM spectrum is continuous?
I know that the electromagnetic spectrum is fundamentally continuous—ranging from radio waves and microwaves, through infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X‑rays, to gamma rays—without sharp ...
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Physical terminology for multiplying a wave by a negative number
In physics, given a function $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ representing some wave, if we multiply $f$ by a large positive number this might be called amplifying the wave, and if we multiply $f$ by a ...
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What is the meaning and name of different types of Feynman Diagrams in Many Body Physics?
Problem
I have a background in theoretical particle physics (TPP) and I'm confused about all the different notations used for Feynman diagrams in many-body theory.
Context
I have read through Bruus ...
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How are Scalar and Vector Product Different?
I have a doubt in my mind from a long time it is,
That How do we get to know that where to use the Scalar Product, and where to use Vector Product.
I have asked 3 of my collage teachers this question ...
