Explaining quantum spontaneous symmetry breaking

被引：24
作者：
Liu, C [1 ]
Emch, GG
机构：
[1] Univ Florida, Dept Philosophy, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
[2] Univ Oxford, Univ Oxford All Souls Coll, Oxford OX1 2JD, England
[3] Univ Florida, Dept Math, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
来源：
STUDIES IN HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF MODERN PHYSICS | 2005年 / 36B卷 / 01期
关键词：
spontaneous symmetry breaking; idealization; thermodynamic limit; foundations of physics;
D O I：
10.1016/j.shpsb.2004.12.003
中图分类号：
N09 [自然科学史]; B [哲学、宗教];
学科分类号：
01 ; 0101 ; 010108 ; 060207 ; 060305 ; 0712 ;
摘要：
Two accounts of quantum symmetry breaking (SSB) in the algebraic approach are compared: the representational and the decompositional account. The latter account is argued to be superior for understanding quantum SSB. Two exactly solvable models are given as applications of our account: the Weiss-Heisenberg model for ferromagnetism and the BCS model for superconductivity. Finally, the decompositional account is shown to be more conducive to the causal explanation of quantum SSB. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码：137 / 163
页数：27
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