I`m an undergraduate in theoretical physics at TCD. My hopes are to oneday get a job in theoretical physics research. Check out my second page "page2.html" where you can find out everything you want to know about the study of "Theoretical Physics". It Is full of brilliant links. But why listen to me when you can find out all the facts from the links I set up on my second page.If like me you don't understand the maths behind the physics,then do not worry because the sites start you off at the basics and the main ideas.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert EinsteinBy far my biggest interest and that which takes up most of my existence is theoretical physics. I am hopping to some way or another get into research in either quantum field theory, string theory, loop quantum gravity or twistor theory or whichever of all these theories is the ultimate theory to unify gravity and quantum mechanics. Such crap as non-linear optics and carbon nanotubes are a no go area as far as i am concerned. You would have to be really boring to like that crap. So basically I am only interested in natures deepest secrets.
Apart from current theories in the cutting edge of theoretical physics I have a massive interest in other strange things which are not studied subjects as far as I know but I think are just as important and as interesting. Basically I have been worried for the last year about one thing. The basic link between theoretical physics and mathematics. Let me explain. When starting off theoretical physics the material is only using basic mathematics to explain the universe. Over 4 years of study one finds that the level of mathematical complexity increases dramatically. Not only that but mathematics shows how powerful it is with symmetries in quantum field theory that are just amazing and leave you feeling that just using maths as a "tool" to discover the universe is not the correct way to view the relationship between maths and nature. I cant go into detail here but even if you think I am ranting then I suggest that you read a lecture given by Feynmann on the relationship between maths and physics. I also suggest that you read up on a guy called Kurth Godel, a mathematical logician who discovered some really unbelieveable theorems about maths. Anyway my point is that the relationship between maths and nature deep but just nobody is really studying it. Everyone is just using all this brilliant maths to solve the mysteries of the universe without even asking why is it that nature allows us to understand it using maths and logic. On first looking at the question it probably doesnt seem to hold much room for a problem of sorts. But I pose this question. If there was no universe, no nothing would maths exist? What would it mean for there to be maths unless there is a unverse that obeys laws of a mathematial nature or even smart humans to think about maths. Maths would exist without us as it would be encoded in a logical universe of which we are part. But would maths exist if there was no universe or anything at all. So I hope you understand my question. I hope even more that I have asked a good question. (Dont want to be labelled a nonsensicle philospher.Those guys talk some nonsence).
Now I hear Mr. T saying: "Boy, quit your jibber jabber". Enough theoretical physics for the moment. I have plenty of other interests apart from that. I love music, comedy, soccer and all that. I have a big interest in politics also and such related stuff. I am a big fan of Tony Blair. He is one class politician. Easily the best politician the world has ever seen apart from maybe John F. Kennedy. Having spent most of my third year in college following his attempt to get action in iraq in 2003 and 2004 I have become a staunch follower. Even with some of the mistakes he made he still was light years ahead of the americans and the french in every move and every decision.
Also I am a big fan of "the office" and "the unbelieveables". In terms of music I love Tool, System of a Down, Metallica, Queens of the Stone Age and so on. I am a big metal fan but I also like trad irish music like Luke Kelly, The Pogues to name but a few. Anyway I dont think you can understand music until you have heard Queens of the Stone Age singing "First It Giveth" or Luke Kelly singing "The auld Triangle" or "The Town I Loved So Well". On the hate side. I hate pop music and the way music is going in general. Metal is dead and so is any thing that resembles good honest music. I hate trinners. And I hate people who tell me in the middle of a conversation to stop using the word "Fuck" all the time. Im not ignorant just badly educated thats all. Have a bit of sympathy for me. I went to school in tullamore at a time when it was full of knackers. I am lucky I survived it at all. Most of all I hate these new crappy no storyline hollywood films which have been produced over the last ten years. No thought behind them at all. No actually I hate people with no sense of humour the most. That really irritates me.
A portrait of the artist as a young man : James Joyce
Tarry Flynn : Patrick Kavanagh (probably the best book ever) The bodhran makers : John B. Keane (probablt the second best book ever) The plough and the stars : Sean O`Casey Does America need a foreign policy : Henry A. Kissinger A Brief History Of Time : Stephan Hawking Black Holes And Baby Universes : Stephan Hawking Superforce : Paul Young The Mind Of God : Paul Young Black Holes,Wormholes And Time Machines : Jim Alkalili
Music:I am a really big rage against the machine,queens of the stone age,system of a down,nirvana,smashing pumpkins,red hot chilli peppers and papa roach fan. Back to the
School of Maths home page.
moorheaj@maths.tcd.ie