field theory

noun

, Physics.

1. a detailed mathematical description of the distribution and movement of matter under the influence of one or more fields.

field theory

1. An explicit mathematical description of physical phenomena that models physical forces using fields.
2. The study of fields and field extensions in algebra.

Word History and Origins

Origin of field theory¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

In quantum field theory, when a not-so-stable state transforms into the true stable state, it's called "false vacuum decay."

From Science Daily

Quantum field theory has predicted that subregions of a system of many entangled particles can be assigned a temperature profile.

From Science Daily

Conformal field theory acts as a bridge between different fields of physics: the underlying math is used in string theory, condensed matter physics and quantum statistical mechanics.

From Scientific American

Tong ended up connecting the fluids on Earth to the quantum Hall effect again, but through a different approach, using the language of quantum field theory.

From Scientific American

The trouble is that the predicted value for the cosmological constant from calculations using quantum field theory produces a number that is too large by a factor of 10120.

From Scientific American