Theoretical Physics
This field studies the interplay between physical theories, the insights and intuitions obtained from them, and rigorous mathematics. This applies to many parts of physics, such as classical dynamical systems, statistical mechanics, condensed matter theory, astrophysics, elementary particle theory, gravitation, and string theory. For much of the last 20 years, the work of string theorists has stimulated important developments in geometry. Seiberg-Witten theory is one prime example, which has led to work in pure mathematics.
Faculty
Hung Cheng Theoretical Physics
Daniel Freedman Theoretical Physics, Supergravity, Supersymmetry
Andrei NeguČ› Algebraic Geometry, Representation Theory
Instructors & Postdocs
Li Chen Mathematical physics, effective equations
Adam Kay Hydrodynamic Quantum Analogues
Alexander Mietke Theoretical Biophysics, Collective Phenomena, Soft Matter