Artificial versus Substantial Gauge Symmetries: A Criterion and an Application to the Electroweak Model
Philosophy of Science 86 (3):472-496 (2019)
Abstract
To systematically answer the generalized Kretschmann objection, I propose a mean to make operational a criterion widely recognized as allowing one to decide whether the gauge symmetry of a theory is artificial or substantial. My proposition is based on the dressing field method of gauge symmetry reduction, a new simple tool from mathematical physics. This general scheme allows one in particular to straightforwardly argue that the notion of spontaneous symmetry breaking is superfluous to the empirical success of the electroweak theory. Important questions regarding the context of justification of the theory then arise.My notes
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Citations of this work
Holism as the empirical significance of symmetries.Henrique Gomes - 2021 - European Journal for Philosophy of Science 11 (3):1-41.
General Relativity, Mental Causation, and Energy Conservation.J. Brian Pitts - 2022 - Erkenntnis 87 (4):1931-1973.
How to Choose a Gauge? The Case of Hamiltonian Electromagnetism.Henrique Gomes & Jeremy Butterfield - forthcoming - Erkenntnis:1-35.
Edge Modes and Dressing Fields for the Newton–Cartan Quantum Hall Effect.Nicholas J. Teh, James Read & William J. Wolf - 2022 - Foundations of Physics 53 (1):1-24.
Abandoning Galileo's Ship: The quest for non-relational empirical significance.Sebastián Murgueitio Ramírez & Nicholas Teh - forthcoming - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science.
References found in this work
Holism and structuralism in U(1) gauge theory.Holger Lyre - 2004 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 35 (4):643-670.
Laws, symmetry, and symmetry breaking: Invariance, conservation principles, and objectivity.John Earman - 2004 - Philosophy of Science 71 (5):1227--1241.
Curie’s Principle and spontaneous symmetry breaking.John Earman - 2004 - International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 18 (2 & 3):173 – 198.