Phenomenology (physics)

For other uses, see Phenomenology (disambiguation).

In physics, phenomenology is the application of theoretical physics to experimental data by making quantitative predictions based upon known theories. It is related to the philosophical notion of the same name in that these predictions describe anticipated behaviors for the phenomena in reality. Phenomenology stands in contrast with experimentation in the scientific method, in which the goal of the experiment is to test a scientific hypothesis instead of making predictions.

Phenomenology is commonly applied to the field of particle physics, where it forms a bridge between the mathematical models of theoretical physics (such as quantum field theories and theories of the structure of space-time) and the results of the high-energy particle experiments. It is sometimes used in other fields such as in condensed matter physics[1][2] and plasma physics,[3][4] when there are no existing theories for the observed experimental data.

  1. ^ "Phenomenological Theory", Condensed Matter Physics, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2010-11-30, pp. 611–631, doi:10.1002/9780470949955.ch20, ISBN 9780470949955
  2. ^ Malcherek, T.; Salje, E. K. H.; Kroll, H. (1997). "A phenomenological approach to ordering kinetics for partially conserved order parameters". Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter. 9 (38): 8075. Bibcode:1997JPCM....9.8075M. doi:10.1088/0953-8984/9/38/013. ISSN 0953-8984. S2CID 250801926.
  3. ^ Moret, J.-M.; Supra, E. Tore (1992). "Tokamak transport phenomenology and plasma dynamic response". Nuclear Fusion. 32 (7): 1241. Bibcode:1992NucFu..32.1241M. doi:10.1088/0029-5515/32/7/I13. ISSN 0029-5515. S2CID 250802918.
  4. ^ Roth, J. Reece; Dai, Xin; Rahel, Jozef; Sherman, Daniel (2005-01-10). The Physics and Phenomenology of Paraelectric One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP) Actuators for Aerodynamic Flow Control. doi:10.2514/6.2005-781. ISBN 9781624100642. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)