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

François, Jordan (2017) Artificial vs Substantial Gauge Symmetries: a Criterion and an Application to the Electroweak Model. [Preprint]

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Abstract

To answer the generalized Kretschman objection, we propose a criterion to decide if the gauge symmetry of a theory is artificial or substantial. It is based on the dressing field method of gauge symmetry reduction, a new simple tool from mathematical physics. Given this criterion we argue that the notion of spontaneous symmetry breaking is superfluous to the empirical success of the electroweak unification 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 Kretschman 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: 06 Nov 2017 14:00
Last Modified: 06 Nov 2017 14:00
Item ID: 14096
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory
Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Date: 27 October 2017
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/14096

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