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The gauge argument: a Noether reason

Gomes, Henrique, Roberts, Bryan W. ORCID: 0000-0003-0548-1280 and Butterfield, Jeremy (2022) The gauge argument: a Noether reason. In: Read, James and Teh, Nicholas J., (eds.) The Philosophy and Physics of Noether’s Theorems: A Centenary Volume. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 354 - 376. ISBN 9781108486231

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Identification Number: 10.1017/9781108665445.015

Abstract

Why is gauge symmetry so important in modern physics, given that one must eliminate it when interpreting what the theory represents? This chapter offers a discussion of the sense in which gauge symmetry can be fruitfully applied to constrain the space of possible dynamical models in such a way that forces and charges are appropriately coupled. It reviews the most well-known application of this kind, known as the ‘gauge argument’ or ‘gauge principle’; discusses its difficulties, and then reconstructs the gauge argument as a valid theorem in quantum theory. The chapter then presents what the authors take to be a better and more general gauge argument, based on Noether’s second theorem in classical Lagrangian field theory, and argues that this provides a more appropriate framework for understanding how gauge symmetry helps to constrain the dynamics of physical theories.

Item Type: Book Section
Official URL: https://www.cambridge.org/gb/universitypress/subje...
Additional Information: © 2022 Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Divisions: Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Date Deposited: 27 Aug 2024 16:03
Last Modified: 08 Oct 2024 18:51
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/124685

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