The concept of emergence is central to understanding sub-fields of physics and how they are related, and not related, to other sub-fields.
The table below shows a stratum of sub-disciplines of physics. For each strata there are a range of length, time, and energy scales that are relevant. There are distinct entities that are composed of the entities from lower strata. These composite entities interact with one another via effective interactions that arise due to the interactions present at lower strata and can be described by an effective theory. Each sub-discipline of physics is semi-autonomous. Collective phenomena associated with a single strata can be studied, described, and understood without reference to lower strata.
Table entries are not meant to be exhaustive but to illustrate how emergence is central to understanding sub-fields of physics and how they are related to one another.
What do you think of the table? Is it helpful? Have you seen something like this before?
I welcome suggestions about entries that I could add.
The Condensed matter length scale should go to 0.1 m. Materials science belongs there.
ReplyDeleteIt is a nice table.
ReplyDeleteI would put vector bosons exchange (W and photon) with the gluon exchange. Shouldn't it be "alpha decay" instead of "beta decay" (or at least both).
Also, I would put "periodic table" right in the middle between atoms and nuclear, and add "atomic spectra" to atoms.
Hey Ross nice table I just wanted to add that I feel the interactions at the condensed matter level can be terribly important for Earth Sciences including the stuff in between. For instance the viscosity of the magma and the would be lava tends to give a reasonable expectation of the explosive power of the volcanic eruption if it occurs. And this viscosity is determined by the composition of the minerals in the material like check this link out https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Mineralogy_igneous_rocks_EN.svg/300px-Mineralogy_igneous_rocks_EN.svg.png basically the rhyoliticic end is where you get the high viscous stuff. But in saying this you'd never be able to pin point where an eruption is going to occur just based on knowing information about minerals, as that tends to be caused by much larger scale interactions such as hot spots and lava plumes. As such I think the area of Geoscience is incredibly interesting when it comes to emergence with how you can see the impact of things at atomic scales (such as the fact an area of rock, would be more resistant to weathering if it is made up of harder minerals such as quartz which is also determined by atomistic interactions to form strong crystal structures), but have incredibly emergent phenomena throughout.
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