Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Finite Systems.
The orthodox characterization of spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) in statistical mechanics appeals to novel properties of systems with infinite degrees of freedom, namely, the existence of multiple equilibrium states. This raises the same puzzles about the status of the thermodynamic limit fuelin...
| Published in: | Philosophy of Science Vol. 83; no. 4; pp. 585 - 606 |
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| Format: | Article |
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Cambridge University Press
Oct2016
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=117944145&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: hlh uiTerm: 117944145 longDbName: Humanities International Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 00318248 PSC jtl: Philosophy of Science issn: 00318248 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Oct2016 vid: 83 iid: 4 pid: 15979 pub: Cambridge University Press artinfo: ui: 117944145 10.1086/687263 ppf: 585 ppct: 21 formats: fmt: – @attributes: type: T – @attributes: type: P size: 619KB tig: atl: Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Finite Systems. aug: au: Fraser, James D. su: Statistical mechanics Analytical mechanics Equilibrium Phase transitions Thermodynamics sug: subj: Statistical mechanics Analytical mechanics Equilibrium Phase transitions Thermodynamics ab: The orthodox characterization of spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) in statistical mechanics appeals to novel properties of systems with infinite degrees of freedom, namely, the existence of multiple equilibrium states. This raises the same puzzles about the status of the thermodynamic limit fueling recent debates about phase transitions. I argue that there are prospects of explaining the success of the standard approach to SSB in terms of the properties of large finite systems. Consequently, despite initial appearances, the need to account for SSB phenomena does not offer decisive support to claims about the explanatory and representational indispensability of the thermodynamic limit. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: Y custom: Copyright of Philosophy of Science is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. item: Philosophy of Science holder: Cambridge University Press dt: @attributes: year: 2016 holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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