Gomes, Henrique (2021) The role of representational conventions in assessing the empirical significance of symmetries. [Preprint]

Preview

Text des_gf_rev.pdf Download (719kB) | Preview

Abstract

This paper explicates the direct empirical significance (DES) of symmetries in gauge theory, with comparisons to classical mechanics. Given a physical system composed of subsystems, such significance is to be awarded to physical differences of the composite system that arise from symmetries acting solely on its subsystems. So my overarching main question is: can DES be associated to the local gauge symmetries, acting solely on subsystems?

In local gauge theories, any quantity with physical significance must be a gauge-invariant quantity.
To attack the question of DES from this gauge-invariant angle, we require a split of the state into its physical and its representational content: a split that is relative to a representational convention, or a gauge-fixing.
Using this method, we propose a rigorous definition of DES, valid for any state.
This definition fills the gaps in influential previous construals of DES. In particular, Wallace's need to specialize to `generic' states is explained and dispensed with.

---

Export/Citation:

EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Gomes, Henrique gomes.ha@gmail.com 0000-0002-9285-0090
Keywords:	Gauge, empirical significance, holism, locality
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Depositing User:	Dr Henrique Gomes
Date Deposited:	28 Oct 2021 03:53
Last Modified:	28 Oct 2021 03:53
Item ID:	19761
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Date:	27 October 2021
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/19761

Available Versions of this Item

• Gauge-invariance and the empirical significance of symmetries. (deposited 07 Mar 2020 04:44)
  • Gauge-invariance and the empirical significance of symmetries. (deposited 28 Oct 2021 03:53)
    • The role of representational conventions in assessing the empirical significance of symmetries. (deposited 28 Oct 2021 03:53) [Currently Displayed]

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item