dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaInterpreting Mathematics in Physics: Charting the Applications of SU(2) in 20th Century Physics
| Authors | Ronald Anderson, G. C. Joshi |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0605012 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0605012 |
Abstract
The role mathematics plays within physics has been of sustained interest for physicists as well as for philosophers and historians of science. We explore this topic by tracing the role the mathematical structure associated with SU(2) has played in three key episodes in 20th century physics - intrinsic spin, isospin, and gauge theory and electro-weak unification. We also briefly consider its role in loop quantum gravity. Each episode has led to new physical notions of a space other than the traditional ones of space and spacetime, and each has had associated with it a complex and in places, contested history. The episodes also reveal ways mathematical structures provide resources for new physical theorizing and we propose our study as a contribution to a need Roger Penrose has identified to develop a "profoundly sensitive aesthetic" sense for locating physically relevant mathematics.
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"abstract": "The role mathematics plays within physics has been of sustained interest for\nphysicists as well as for philosophers and historians of science. We explore\nthis topic by tracing the role the mathematical structure associated with SU(2)\nhas played in three key episodes in 20th century physics - intrinsic spin,\nisospin, and gauge theory and electro-weak unification. We also briefly\nconsider its role in loop quantum gravity. Each episode has led to new physical\nnotions of a space other than the traditional ones of space and spacetime, and\neach has had associated with it a complex and in places, contested history. The\nepisodes also reveal ways mathematical structures provide resources for new\nphysical theorizing and we propose our study as a contribution to a need Roger\nPenrose has identified to develop a \"profoundly sensitive aesthetic\" sense for\nlocating physically relevant mathematics.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0605012",
"authors": [
"Ronald Anderson",
"G. C. Joshi"
],
"categories": [
"physics.hist-ph"
],
"title": "Interpreting Mathematics in Physics: Charting the Applications of SU(2) in 20th Century Physics",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0605012"
},
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