scalar field

noun

, Mathematics, Physics.

1. a region with a number assigned at each point.

Word History and Origins

Origin of scalar field¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

But he notes that in some sense it merely replaces one mysterious thing—dark matter—with another—a carefully tuned scalar field.

From Science Magazine

We postulated the existence of a “scalar field,” a non-directional variable force in spacetime, he says, that is essentially the same as the one responsible for inflation, but which penetrates into the present epoch.

From Forbes

For example, w could start out near minus one in the distant past, and then as the scalar field evolves faster and faster, w gets further and further away from minus one.

From Scientific American

First, inflation is driven by a hypothetical scalar field, the inflaton, which has properties that can be adjusted to produce effectively any outcome.

From Nature

"This puts some very serious constraints on these rolling scalar field cosmologies."

From Scientific American