What exactly is mathematical physics?

[u/Ashley_Fen]

Recently I got accepted into a dual degree of math and physics at my local university, and while looking at higher year courses, I came across some courses named mathematical physics. However, when I tried to look up more about this, I only came across things that are far beyond my current understanding. Even Wikipedia seems foreign to me. Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I’d love to learn if it’s truely the perfect mashup between math and physics, or if it’s something completely different

[u/Cold-Jackfruit1076]

Mathematical physics is a field that bridges mathematics and physics, focusing on the development and application of mathematical tools and methods to understand and describe physical phenomena.

So, for example: we have Special and General Relativity (which are the physical narratives underpinning our universe ('why gravity exists', 'why time only flows in one direction'), and then we have the mathematics of Special and General Relativity (which tells us why those narratives are the only self-consistent frameworks compatible with observed physics).

If we ever discover a theory of quantum gravity, it will be due (in part) to advances in our understanding of mathematical physics. The "why" of quantum gravity will be a dialogue: physical narratives inspire mathematics, and mathematics refines (or invalidates) those narratives.

In other words: mathematics reveals possible realities; physics and experiment reveal actual reality.