Baker, David John (2018) Interpreting Supersymmetry. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Supersymmetry in quantum physics is a mathematically simple phenomenon that raises deep foundational questions. To motivate these questions, I present a toy model, the supersymmetric harmonic oscillator, and its superspace representation, which adds extra anticommuting dimensions to spacetime. I then explain and comment on three foundational questions about this superspace formalism: whether superspace is a substance, whether it should count as spatiotemporal, and whether it is a necessary postulate if one wants to use the theory to unify bosons and fermions.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Baker, David John djbaker@umich.edu
Keywords:	supersymmetry, spacetime functionalism, superspace, substantivalism, quantum field theory
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Depositing User:	David Baker
Date Deposited:	08 Oct 2018 13:17
Last Modified:	08 Oct 2018 13:17
Item ID:	15119
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Date:	2018
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15119

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