Towards a Geometrical Understanding of the CPT Theorem.
The CPT theorem of quantum field theory states that any relativistic (Lorentz-invariant) quantum field theory must also be invariant under CPT, the composition of charge conjugation, parity reversal and time reversal. This paper sketches a puzzle that seems to arise when one puts the existence of th...
| Publicado en: | British Journal for the Philosophy of Science Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 27 - 51 |
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| Formato: | Artículo |
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University of Chicago Press
Mar2010
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=48718746&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: hlh uiTerm: 48718746 longDbName: Humanities International Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 00070882 BPL jtl: British Journal for the Philosophy of Science issn: 00070882 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Mar2010 vid: 61 iid: 1 pid: 415 pub: University of Chicago Press artinfo: ui: 48718746 10.1093/bjps/axp004 ppf: 27 ppct: 24 formats: tig: atl: Towards a Geometrical Understanding of the CPT Theorem. aug: au: Greaves, Hilary affil: Merton College, Oxford OX1 4JD su: Quantum field theory Manifolds (Mathematics) Field theory (Physics) Lorentz groups Mathematical invariants sug: subj: Quantum field theory Manifolds (Mathematics) Field theory (Physics) Lorentz groups Mathematical invariants ab: The CPT theorem of quantum field theory states that any relativistic (Lorentz-invariant) quantum field theory must also be invariant under CPT, the composition of charge conjugation, parity reversal and time reversal. This paper sketches a puzzle that seems to arise when one puts the existence of this sort of theorem alongside a standard way of thinking about symmetries, according to which spacetime symmetries (at any rate) are associated with features of the spacetime structure. The puzzle is, roughly, that the existence of a CPT theorem seems to show that it is not possible for a well-formulated theory that does not make use of a preferred frame or foliation to make use of a temporal orientation. Since a manifold with only a Lorentzian metric can be temporally orientable—capable of admitting a temporal orientation—this seems to be an odd sort of necessary connection between distinct existences. The paper then suggests a solution to the puzzle: it is suggested that the CPT theorem arises because temporal orientation is unlike other pieces of spacetime structure, in that one cannot represent it by a tensor field. To avoid irrelevant technical details, the discussion is carried out in the setting of classical field theory, using a little-known classical analog of the CPT theorem. IntroductionThe Connection between Dynamical Symmetries and Spacetime StructureA Puzzle about the CPT TheoremA Classical PT Theorem 4.1Bell's theorem4.2Auxiliary constraintsResolution of the PuzzleGalilean-Invariant Field Theories 6.1Temporal orientation in Galilean spacetime6.2Counterexample to the Galilean PT hypothesisConclusions pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: Y dt: @attributes: year: 2010 holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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