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Artificial vs Substantial Gauge Symmetries: a Criterion and an Application to the Electroweak Model

François, Jordan (2018) Artificial vs Substantial Gauge Symmetries: a Criterion and an Application to the Electroweak Model. [Preprint]

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Abstract

To systematically answer the generalized Kretschmann objection, we propose a mean to make operational a criterion widely recognized as allowing to decide if the gauge symmetry of a theory is artificial or substantial. Our proposition is based on the dressing field method of gauge symmetry reduction, a new simple tool from mathematical physics. This general scheme allows 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.

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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
François, Jordanjordanfrancois54@gmail.com
Keywords: Gauge symmetries, generalized Kretschmann objection, electroweak theory, symmetry breaking, Higgs mechanism.
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory
Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Depositing User: Dr Jordan François
Date Deposited: 22 Oct 2018 14:49
Last Modified: 22 Oct 2018 14:49
Item ID: 15182
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory
Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Date: 2018
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15182

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