Mathematical physics - Definition and Overview

Mathematical physics is the scientific field in between mathematics and physics; it studies the problems inspired by physics within a mathematically rigorous framework. Although mathematical physics and theoretical physics are related, these two notions are often distinguished. Mathematical physics emphasizes the mathematical rigor of the same type as found in mathematics while theoretical physics emphasizes the links to actual observations and experimental physics which often requires the theoretical physicists to use heuristic, intuitive, and approximate arguments. In simple terms, mathematical physics is closer to mathematics and theoretical physics is closer to physics.

Because of the required rigor, mathematical physicists often deal with questions that theoretical physicists have considered to be solved for decades. However, the mathematical physicists can sometimes (but rarely) show that the solution was incorrect.

Quantum mechanics cannot be understood without a good knowledge of mathematics. It is not surprising then that its developed version under the name of quantum field theory is the most abstract, mathematically based and backward-influential to mathematics area of physical sciences..

See also important publications in mathematical physics

Example Usage of Mathematical