Symmetry Structure And Spacetime

In this book Rickles considers several interpretative difficulties raised by gauge-type symmetries (those that correspond to no change in physical state). The ubiquity of such symmetries in modern physics renders them an urgent topic in philosophy of physics. Rickles focuses on spacetime physics, and in particular classical and quantum general relativity. Here the problems posed are at their most pathological, involving the apparent disappearance of spacetime! Rickles argues that both traditional ontological positions should be replaced by a structuralist account according to which relational structure is what the physics is about. · Unified treatment of gauge symmetries and their relationship to ontology in physics · Brings philosophy of space and time into step with developments in modern physics · Argues against the received view on the implications of symmetries in physics · Provides elementary treatments of technical issues · Illustrates a novel defense of structuralism

The development of special and general relativity has relied significantly on ideas of symmetry. Similarly, modern efforts to test these theories have often sought either violations or extensions of the symmetries seen, and symmetry is regularly used a tool in seeking new applications. In this Special Issue of symmetry, we explore some contemporary research related to symmetry in special and general relativity.

This is a textbook that derives the fundamental theories of physics from symmetry. It starts by introducing, in a completely self-contained way, all mathematical tools needed to use symmetry ideas in physics. Thereafter, these tools are put into action and by using symmetry constraints, the fundamental equations of Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Field Theory, Electromagnetism, and Classical Mechanics are derived. As a result, the reader is able to understand the basic assumptions behind, and the connections between the modern theories of physics. The book concludes with first applications of the previously derived equations. Thanks to the input of readers from around the world, this second edition has been purged of typographical errors and also contains several revised sections with improved explanations.

This monograph provides an introduction to deformations of Poincaré symmetries focusing on models with a Lie group momentum space and associated non-commutative space-times. The emphasis is put on the emergence of such structures from quantum gravity, their mathematical features described in terms of Hopf algebras and applications to particle kinematics and field theory. Part I of this work focuses on the link between gravity and deformed symmetries in the case of 2+1 and 3+1 space-time dimensions. Part II is devoted to the description of classical particles with group valued momenta, their phase spaces and kinematics. The last part of these notes provides an introduction to the basic features of classical and quantum field theory on κ-Minkowski space-time, the prototypical example of non-commutative space-time exhibiting deformed Poincaré symmetry. The text, being the first providing a detailed overview of these topics, is primarily intended for researchers and graduate students interested in non-commutative field theories and quantum gravity phenomenology.

This book contains several recent articles written about broken spacetime symmetry. The context is curved spacetime as used in General Relativity and the broken symmetry most discussed is Local Lorentz Symmetry. While there is currently no experimental evidence for broken Lorentz symmetry in nature, it is an object of great study from theoretical, phenomenological, and experimental perspectives. All three appear in this volume. There are three review articles in this volume: Fabian Kislat summarizes astrophysical probes of Lorentz violation, especially those using polarized light; Michael Seifert discusses a particular limit of the Standard-Model Extension that is useful for relating theoretical and experimental ideas; and Marco Schreck describes circumstances under which gravitational Cerenkov radiation could arise from Lorentz violation. The other three articles focus more on original research: Charles Lane and Quentin Bailey relate a particular theory of noncommutative geometry to the curved-spacetime Standard-Model Extension; Yuri Bonder and Christobal Corral consider the existence of spacetime symmetries in models with explicit Lorentz violation; and Pawel Gusin et al. study a spacetime transformation that relates the inside and outside of a nonrotating black hole.

Symmetries, coupled with the mathematical concept of group theory, are an essential conceptual backbone in the formulation of quantum field theories capable of describing the world of elementary particles. This primer is an introduction to and survey of the underlying concepts and structures needed in order to understand and handle these powerful tools. Specifically, in Part I of the book the symmetries and related group theoretical structures of the Minkowskian space-time manifold are analyzed, while Part II examines the internal symmetries and their related unitary groups, where the interactions between fundamental particles are encoded as we know them from the present standard model of particle physics. This book, based on several courses given by the authors, addresses advanced graduate students and non-specialist researchers wishing to enter active research in the field, and having a working knowledge of classical field theory and relativistic quantum mechanics. Numerous end-of-chapter problems and their solutions will facilitate the use of this book as self-study guide or as course book for topical lectures.

Divided into three parts, this volume focuses on a summary of how relativity theories were born. It also discusses the ramifications of general relativity, such as black holes, space-time singularities, gravitational waves, the large scale structure of the cosmos, and more. It includes summaries of radical changes in the notions of space and time.

This 1982 book contains selected contributions presented at the Nuffield Quantum Gravity Workshop held at Imperial College, London, in August 1981.