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invariance
Note that the photon field
must also be transformed.
1. Initial state
2. Rotate +
3. Transform A 4. Final state The photon
undoes the
rotation and
preserves the
symmetry!
These symmetries are called Gauge Symmetries. In putting this idea into a
mathematical formalism they found that the exact formula for how the extra
(photon-like) particles interact with the electrons and quarks fell out of the their
invariant equations. Math again gives the answers!
From this approach (and a lot of sophisticated mathematics) came the
Standard Model of particle physics the theory of everything.
HOWEVER, the symmetry is broken when the photon-like particles take
on mass. Not to waste an unexpected result, the particle physicists used
this symmetry breaking to describe how the universe evolved from the Big
Bang!
The idea is this: as the universe cools it condenses out the gauge particles
(they take on mass) and the symmetries are broken. From the equations,
the particle physicists have been able to develop a step by step scenario
describing how the universe as we know it emerged from the big bang . Many
questions remain.
Thank you!
From this field operator a kind energy operator, called a Lagrangian density,
L, is constructed. A similar operator in classical physics is known to reproduce
Newtons law, F= ma, when one minimizes }Ldt over the path of the motion.
Then the particle physicists do a very interesting thing:
They demand that this Lagrangian energy operator be invariant under
a special mathematical operation, called a gauge transformation.
The gauge transformation is a kind of rotation which changes the complex
phase of the electron by an arbitrary function which depends on where
(in space-time) the particle is.
Cosmology and such
Those who study the smallest particles electrons, quarks, neutrinos and
the rest of the basic building blocks of our world have an extraordinary
story -- about how our universe developed from the big bang.
The story is based on mathematics.
First of all, they start with a kind of Schrodinger equation model one which
is appropriate for particles which are moving very fast. It is called Quantum
Field Theory. In this field theory there is a field operator, (r,t), for the
electron. The field
operator is a linear combination of all possible free particle states for an
electron. With this field operator one can create (or destroy) a free electron
at any point in space, and with any energy if the math calls for it.
This gave them the idea to look at the expanding, cooling universe as a
series of symmetries which are broken as particle fields Crystallize out.
It has been so successful that it is now the accepted story of how the
universe started from a small dense, hot system to the vast array of
galaxies and stars as we know it today.
What they find is that the invariance can not occur unless one introduces
another field, called the gauge field. This gauge field emerges as the force
field by which electrons interact with each other: the photon field!
In other word, the gauge SYMMETRY demands that the photon exists!
Furthermore, the modified Lagrangian (wth the photon field) prescribes
exactly how the electron interacts with the photon!
= 2, m = -2,-1, 0, 1, 2