The Philosophy and Physics of Noether's Theorems

The Philosophy and Physics of Noether's Theorems PDF Author: James Read
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108786812
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 388

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Book Description
In 1918, Emmy Noether, in her paper Invariante Variationsprobleme, proved two theorems (and their converses) on variational problems that went on to revolutionise theoretical physics. 100 years later, the mathematics of Noether's theorems continues to be generalised, and the physical applications of her results continue to diversify. This centenary volume brings together world-leading historians, philosophers, physicists, and mathematicians in order to clarify the historical context of this work, its foundational and philosophical consequences, and its myriad physical applications. Suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students and professional researchers, this is a go-to resource for those wishing to understand Noether's work on variational problems and the profound applications which it finds in contemporary physics.

The Philosophy and Physics of Noether's Theorems

The Philosophy and Physics of Noether's Theorems PDF Author: James Read
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108786812
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 388

Get Book Here

Book Description
In 1918, Emmy Noether, in her paper Invariante Variationsprobleme, proved two theorems (and their converses) on variational problems that went on to revolutionise theoretical physics. 100 years later, the mathematics of Noether's theorems continues to be generalised, and the physical applications of her results continue to diversify. This centenary volume brings together world-leading historians, philosophers, physicists, and mathematicians in order to clarify the historical context of this work, its foundational and philosophical consequences, and its myriad physical applications. Suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students and professional researchers, this is a go-to resource for those wishing to understand Noether's work on variational problems and the profound applications which it finds in contemporary physics.

The Philosophy and Physics of Noether's Theorems

The Philosophy and Physics of Noether's Theorems PDF Author: James Read
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108486231
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 387

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Book Description
A centenary volume that celebrates, extends and applies Noether's 1918 theorems with contributions from world-leading researchers.

Emmy Noether's Wonderful Theorem

Emmy Noether's Wonderful Theorem PDF Author: Dwight E. Neuenschwander
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 1421422689
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 338

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Book Description
One of the most important—and beautiful—mathematical solutions ever devised, Noether’s theorem touches on every aspect of physics. "In the judgment of the most competent living mathematicians, Fräulein Noether was the most significant creative mathematical genius thus far produced since the higher education of women began."—Albert Einstein The year was 1915, and the young mathematician Emmy Noether had just settled into Göttingen University when Albert Einstein visited to lecture on his nearly finished general theory of relativity. Two leading mathematicians of the day, David Hilbert and Felix Klein, dug into the new theory with gusto, but had difficulty reconciling it with what was known about the conservation of energy. Knowing of her expertise in invariance theory, they requested Noether’s help. To solve the problem, she developed a novel theorem, applicable across all of physics, which relates conservation laws to continuous symmetries—one of the most important pieces of mathematical reasoning ever developed. Noether’s “first” and “second” theorem was published in 1918. The first theorem relates symmetries under global spacetime transformations to the conservation of energy and momentum, and symmetry under global gauge transformations to charge conservation. In continuum mechanics and field theories, these conservation laws are expressed as equations of continuity. The second theorem, an extension of the first, allows transformations with local gauge invariance, and the equations of continuity acquire the covariant derivative characteristic of coupled matter-field systems. General relativity, it turns out, exhibits local gauge invariance. Noether’s theorem also laid the foundation for later generations to apply local gauge invariance to theories of elementary particle interactions. In Dwight E. Neuenschwander’s new edition of Emmy Noether’s Wonderful Theorem, readers will encounter an updated explanation of Noether’s “first” theorem. The discussion of local gauge invariance has been expanded into a detailed presentation of the motivation, proof, and applications of the “second” theorem, including Noether’s resolution of concerns about general relativity. Other refinements in the new edition include an enlarged biography of Emmy Noether’s life and work, parallels drawn between the present approach and Noether’s original 1918 paper, and a summary of the logic behind Noether’s theorem.

The Philosophy of Symmetry

The Philosophy of Symmetry PDF Author: Nicholas Joshua Yii Wye Teh
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1009020544
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 151

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Book Description
This Element is a concise, high-level introduction to the philosophy of physical symmetry. It begins with the notion of 'physical representation' (the kind of empirical representation of nature that we effect in doing physics), and then lays out the historically and conceptually central case of physical symmetry that frequently falls under the rubric of 'the Relativity Principle,' or 'Galileo's Ship.' This material is then used as a point of departure to explore the key hermeneutic challenge concerning physical symmetry in the past century, namely understanding the physical significance of the notion of 'local' gauge symmetry. The approach taken stresses both the continuity with historically important themes such as the Relativity Principle, as well as novel insights earned by working with contemporary representational media such as the covariant phase space formalism.

Symmetries in Physics

Symmetries in Physics PDF Author: Katherine Brading
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139442023
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 459

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Book Description
This book brings together philosophical discussions of symmetry in physics, highlighting the main issues and controversies. It covers all the fundamental symmetries of modern physics, as well as discussing symmetry-breaking and general interpretational issues. For each topic, classic texts are followed by review articles and short commentaries.

The Noether Theorems

The Noether Theorems PDF Author: Yvette Kosmann-Schwarzbach
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 0387878688
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 205

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Book Description
In 1915 and 1916 Emmy Noether was asked by Felix Klein and David Hilbert to assist them in understanding issues involved in any attempt to formulate a general theory of relativity, in particular the new ideas of Einstein. She was consulted particularly over the difficult issue of the form a law of conservation of energy could take in the new theory, and she succeeded brilliantly, finding two deep theorems. But between 1916 and 1950, the theorem was poorly understood and Noether's name disappeared almost entirely. People like Klein and Einstein did little more then mention her name in the various popular or historical accounts they wrote. Worse, earlier attempts which had been eclipsed by Noether's achievements were remembered, and sometimes figure in quick historical accounts of the time. This book carries a translation of Noether's original paper into English, and then describes the strange history of its reception and the responses to her work. Ultimately the theorems became decisive in a shift from basing fundamental physics on conservations laws to basing it on symmetries, or at the very least, in thoroughly explaining the connection between these two families of ideas. The real significance of this book is that it shows very clearly how long it took before mathematicians and physicists began to recognize the seminal importance of Noether's results. This book is thoroughly researched and provides careful documentation of the textbook literature. Kosmann-Schwarzbach has thus thrown considerable light on this slow dance in which the mathematical tools necessary to study symmetry properties and conservation laws were apparently provided long before the orchestra arrives and the party begins.

Emmy Noether's Wonderful Theorem

Emmy Noether's Wonderful Theorem PDF Author: Dwight E. Neuenschwander
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 1421422670
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 338

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Book Description
"Dwight E. Neuenschwander's introduction to the theorem's genesis, applications, and consequences artfully unpacks its universal importance and unsurpassed elegance. Drawing from over thirty years of teaching the subject, Neuenschwander uses mechanics, optics, geometry, and field theory to point the way to a deep understanding of Noether's Theorem. The three sections provide a step-by-step, simple approach to the less-complex concepts surrounding the theorem, in turn instilling the knowledge and confidence needed to grasp the full wonder it encompasses. Illustrations and worked examples throughout each chapter serve as signposts on the way to this apex of physics."--Publisher's description.

The Universe of General Relativity

The Universe of General Relativity PDF Author: A.J. Kox
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 0817644547
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 384

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Book Description
Outgrowth of 6th Int'l Conference on the History of General Relativity, held in Amsterdam on June 26-29, 2002 Contributions from notable experts offer both new and historical insights on gravitation, general relativity, cosmology, unified field theory, and the history of science Topics run gamet from detailed mathematical discussions to more personal recollections of relativity as seen through the eyes of the public and renowned relativists

Noether's Theorem and Symmetry

Noether's Theorem and Symmetry PDF Author: P.G.L. Leach
Publisher: MDPI
ISBN: 3039282344
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 186

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Book Description
In Noether's original presentation of her celebrated theorem of 1918, allowances were made for the dependence of the coefficient functions of the differential operator which generated the infinitesimal transformation of the Action Integral upon the derivatives of the dependent variable(s), the so-called generalized, or dynamical, symmetries. A similar allowance is to be found in the variables of the boundary function, often termed a gauge function by those who have not read the original paper. This generality was lost after texts such as those of Courant and Hilbert or Lovelock and Rund confined attention to only point transformations. In recent decades, this diminution of the power of Noether's Theorem has been partly countered, in particular, in the review of Sarlet and Cantrijn. In this Special Issue, we emphasize the generality of Noether's Theorem in its original form and explore the applicability of even more general coefficient functions by allowing for nonlocal terms. We also look at the application of these more general symmetries to problems in which parameters or parametric functions have a more general dependence upon the independent variables.

String Theory and the Scientific Method

String Theory and the Scientific Method PDF Author: Richard Dawid
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107067588
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 213

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Book Description
String theory has played a highly influential role in theoretical physics for nearly three decades and has substantially altered our view of the elementary building principles of the Universe. However, the theory remains empirically unconfirmed, and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. So why do string theorists have such a strong belief in their theory? This book explores this question, offering a novel insight into the nature of theory assessment itself. Dawid approaches the topic from a unique position, having extensive experience in both philosophy and high-energy physics. He argues that string theory is just the most conspicuous example of a number of theories in high-energy physics where non-empirical theory assessment has an important part to play. Aimed at physicists and philosophers of science, the book does not use mathematical formalism and explains most technical terms.