Mathematical physics sits at the fascinating intersection where abstract equations meet the fundamental laws of our universe. This field uses rigorous mathematical tools to model everything from the behavior of subatomic particles to the curvature of spacetime, turning complex theories into testable predictions. It is the language through which physicists describe reality, bridging the gap between pure mathematics and physical observation.

On Gist.Science, we process every new preprint published in this category on arXiv to make these dense studies accessible to everyone. Whether you are a specialist or a curious reader, you will find both plain-language overviews and detailed technical summaries for each paper. Below are the latest mathematical physics papers from arXiv, curated to help you explore the cutting edge of theoretical science.

On Sampling Methods for Inverse Biharmonic Scattering Problems in Supported Plates

This paper establishes the theoretical foundations for the linear and direct sampling methods to qualitatively recover supported cavities in thin elastic plates governed by the biharmonic wave equation, demonstrating through numerical experiments that both methods robustly identify obstacle locations, with the direct sampling method offering superior stability and computational efficiency.

Carlos Borges, Rafael Ceja Ayala, Peter Nekrasov2026-03-24🔢 math-ph

A generalized Coulomb problem for a spin-1/2 fermion

This paper derives exact bound-state solutions and energy spectra for a spin-1/2 fermion governed by the Dirac equation with a general combination of scalar, vector, and tensor Coulomb potentials in 3+1 dimensions, establishing a direct mapping between planar and spherical problems while validating existing results and introducing new cases involving broken spin and pseudospin symmetries.

V. B. Mendrot, A. S. de Castro, P. Alberto2026-03-24🔢 math-ph

On geometric hydrodynamics and infinite-dimensional magnetic systems

This paper introduces the magnetic Euler-Arnold equation by combining Arnold's geometric approach to fluid dynamics with his formulation of charged particle motion in magnetic fields, demonstrating that several important infinite-dimensional systems—including the Korteweg-de Vries and global quasi-geostrophic equations—can be interpreted as such magnetic geodesic flows while establishing new well-posedness results.

Levin Maier2026-03-23🔢 math-ph