The Leapfrog Language of Theoretical Physics: How breakthroughs were made

This is a seminar-course-style activity in which we read classic theoretical physics papers and take turns presenting them. 

The aim of this activity is to critically examine how conceptual leaps in theoretical physics were made at the time of discovery. We will specifically focus on associated changes in mathematical language.

In modern instruction, we learn about theoretical developments through pedagogical presentation that can often appear almost natural. But the reason many new ideas were so consequential was that they were hardly natural at the time.  

We will examine seminal papers and their connections to the contemporaneous literature, aiming to address the following questions:

• What was the theoretical context and what mathematical language was in use before the breakthrough development?
• How did scientists of the past tie ideas together with the mathematical language of the time to leapfrog to a new description? 
• What specifically about the modern presentation makes the physical content of the mathematical language easier to parse? 

Discussions will involve physics material that is learned at the advanced undergraduate and graduate levels.

We will meet in person Tu/Th 10-11AM in the Cosman Room (6C-442). Partial attendance is encouraged! 

Coffee, snacks, and chalk will be provided.