C18: Mathematical PhysicsC18 C182021-04-08T11:03:32+00:00

C18: Mathematical Physics

The Commission on Mathematical Physics was established by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics in 1981 to promote the exchange of information and views among the members of the international scientific community in the general field of mathematics of problems originating in or relevant to physics.

As a field of mathematics and of physics, Mathematical Physics thrives on its diversity of scientific problems and mathematical approaches. Physicist are generally well aware that the development of physics stimulated the creation of new mathematics (for instance, calculus for analytical mechanics and the theory of distributions in Dirac’s quantum mechanics) and also that new physical theories came to rely heavily on previously created mathematics (for instance, Riemannian geometry in Relativity and the theory of group representations in the quantum physics of atoms, molecules, condensed matter, and particle physics). Most physicists are less aware, however, of the degree in which this bi-directional process continues to influence both fields today. An overarching goal of C18 is to highlight the importance of this mutually beneficial interaction and to support continuing exchange between mathematics and physics.

C18 shares the goal of making current-day interactions between physics and mathematics visible and more widely known with the International Association of Mathematical Physics (IAMP, founded in 1976). The synergy between C18 and IAMP helps both to be more effective. Therefore, C18 traditionally proposes affiliate membership to the President of IAMP. The tri-annual International Congress of Mathematical Physics (ICMP) is also the main periodic event in mathematical physics and it is routinely supported by IUPAP, most recently the XIXth ICMP, which took place July 23-28, 2018, in Montreal, Canada.

Once a year, IUPAP calls for applications for conference support through its commissions. C18 is helped by the News Bulletin of the IAMP to get the word out and decides which conferences it will present to the Council of Commission Chairs for financial support or endorsement. Examples of conferences supported in the recent past are QMATH and the 2019 Quantum Theory and Symmetry conference.

Every three years, three IUPAP Young Scientist Prize winners are selected by C18 and honored at a prize ceremony at the ICMP. Since the creation of the IUPAP Young Scientist Prize in Mathematical Physics, twelve young mathematical physicists have received the distinction: 2018: Weikuo Chen, Vadim Gorin and Phan Thanh Nam; 2015: Roland Bauerschmidt, Joseph Ben Geloun, and Nicolas Rougerie; 2012: Ivan Corwin, Alessandro Giuliani, and Wojciech de Roeck; 2009: Rupert L. Frank, Benjamin Schlein, and Simone Warzel.

Mission/Mandate

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To promote the exchange of information and views among the members of the international scientific community in the general field of Mathematical studies of problems originating in or relevant to Physics, including:

Mathematical models of physical systems;
Mathematical aspects of physical theories;
Computational techniques.

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To recommend for Union sponsorship international conferences which qualify for support under Union regulations.

To initiate such conferences as their need arises from the evolution of the Commission field.

To assist in the organization of such conferences when practical. To ensure the compatibility of international conferences in its field and to discourage clashes and incompatibility of dates.

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To promote the free circulation of scientists; to assist conference organizers in ensuring such free circulation and in resolving potential infringements.

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To organize where feasible the award of medals or other testimonials of excellence in its field.

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To publish where feasible newsletters, circulars, occasional books, journals or handbooks in its area.

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To maintain liaison with other IUPAP Commissions, with the Commissions or Committees of other Unions or of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) or other scientific organizations, with a view to collaborating and cooperating in sponsoring joint conferences and to participating in joint projects when need arises.

In particular to maintain close liaison with the General Commissions of IUPAP (SUNAMCO, Physics Education and Development), so as to ensure suitable input from its field into these physics-wide activities.

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To make available to each General Assembly of the Union a summary of activities and progress in its field since the previous Assembly.

Objectives

Mathematics is a primary language of physics and mathematical physicists should be the most able to communicate effectively in this language. Moreover, mathematical physics is a subfield of physics that straddles every other subfield. Its practitioners are therefore especially equipped to relate the ideas that emerge from the many subfields and should be among the most influential in the development of physical theory.

The Commission’s primary objectives are to champion the cause of Mathematical Physics, enhance its status in the physics community, support IAMP, and promote interdisciplinary activities between mathematicians and physicists.

The Commission endeavours to achieve its objectives by promoting effective and wide range communication between mathematicians and physicists primarily through international conferences. Because mathematical physics comprises a huge range of subject matter, it is inevitable that the discipline should separate into narrow subfields. Conferences and workshops can and should provides sessions in which the experts can discuss the problems and advances at the frontiers of their fields. However, such sessions are rarely useful to a newcomer to the field or experts in other areas. The Commission is therefore most interested in supporting international conferences which provide plenary sessions that are meaningful and stimulating to the widest range of participants with the widest range of backgrounds. The inclusion of tutorial sessions for novices and young persons is also much encouraged.

Additional Information

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The C18 chapter from the IUPAP Year 2000 book, Physics 2000.

Relationships with Other Organizations

The proposal to establish a IUPAP Commission for Mathematical Physics was initiated by the IAMP (International Association for Mathematical Physics) when Araki Huzihiro was President of that organization. The Commission came into being in 1981 and has since enjoyed a close and mutually supportive relationship with IAMP. This is appropriate because the aims and objectives of the Commission are very similar to those of IAMP which are (a) to promote international cooperation in mathematical physics and (b) to encourage and coordinate activities in mathematical physics.

It is the practice of the Commission to appoint members of the Executive Committees of IAMP and of IMU (International Mathematical Union) as associate members. Associate members are also appointed from other IUPAP Commissions.