Large gauge transformations and the strong CP problem

Q1 Arts and Humanities

Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics Pub Date : 2020-02-01 DOI:10.1016/j.shpsb.2019.09.001

John Dougherty

引用次数: 7

Abstract

According to the Standard Model of particle physics, some gauge transformations are physical symmetries. That is, they are mathematical transformations that relate representatives of distinct physical states of affairs. This is at odds with the standard philosophical position according to which gauge transformations are an eliminable redundancy in a gauge theory's representational framework. In this paper I defend the Standard Model's treatment of gauge from an objection due to Richard Healey. If we follow the Standard Model in taking some gauge transformations to be physical symmetries then we face the “strong CP problem”, but if we adopt the standard philosophical position on gauge then the strong CP problem dissolves. Healey offers this as a reason in favor of the standard philosophical view. However, as I argue here, following Healey's recommendation gives a theory that makes bad empirical predictions.

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大尺度变换与强CP问题

根据粒子物理学的标准模型，一些规范变换是物理对称的。也就是说，它们是将不同物理状态的代表联系起来的数学变换。这与标准的哲学立场不一致，根据标准的哲学立场，规范变换是规范理论的表征框架中可消除的冗余。在本文中，我从理查德·希利提出的异议中为标准模型对规范的处理进行了辩护。如果我们遵循标准模型，将一些规范转换为物理对称，那么我们将面临“强CP问题”，但如果我们对规范采取标准的哲学立场，那么强CP问题就会消失。希利将此作为支持标准哲学观点的理由。然而，正如我在这里所说的，遵循希利的建议给出了一个做出糟糕实证预测的理论。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 物理-科学史与科学哲学

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

13.3 weeks

期刊介绍： Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics is devoted to all aspects of the history and philosophy of modern physics broadly understood, including physical aspects of astronomy, chemistry and other non-biological sciences. The primary focus is on physics from the mid/late-nineteenth century to the present, the period of emergence of the kind of theoretical physics that has come to dominate the exact sciences in the twentieth century. The journal is internationally oriented with contributions from a wide range of perspectives. In addition to purely historical or philosophical papers, the editors particularly encourage papers that combine these two disciplines. The editors are also keen to publish papers of interest to physicists, as well as specialists in history and philosophy of physics.