Liu, Chuang (2002) The Meaning of Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking (I): From a simple classical model. UNSPECIFIED. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

This paper, part I of a two-part project, aims at answering the simple question 'what is spontaneous symmetry breaking?' by analyzing from a philosophical perspective a simple classical model. Related questions include: what does it mean to break a symmetry spontaneously? Is the breaking causal, or is the symmetry not broken but merely hidden? Is the meta-principle, 'no asymmetry in, no asymmetry out,' violated? And what is the role in this of random perturbations (or fluctuations)?

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Item Type:	Other
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Liu, Chuang
Keywords:	spontaneous symmetry breaking, symmetry breaking, symmetry principle, symmetry, perturbation, equilibrium solution, ground state
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Depositing User:	Chuang Liu
Date Deposited:	04 Feb 2002
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:10
Item ID:	563
Public Domain:	No
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Date:	January 2002
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/563

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