We pose and resolve a puzzle about spontaneous symmetry breaking in the quantum theory of infinite systems. For a symmetry to be spontaneously broken, it must not be implementable by a unitary operator in a ground state's GNS representation. But Wigner's theorem guarantees that any symmetry's action on states is given by a unitary operator. How can this unitary operator fail to implement the symmetry in the GNS representation? We show how it is possible for a unitary operator of this sort to connect the folia of unitarily inequivalent representations. This result undermines interpretations of quantum theory that hold unitary equivalence to be necessary for physical equivalence
Dedicated to the memory of Gérard Emch (1936–2013) Beginning with Anderson (1972), spontaneous symm...
This essay expounds the algebraic framework describing general physical the-ories, within which the ...
International audienceAccording to Wigner theorem, transformations of quantum states which preserve ...
We pose and resolve a puzzle about spontaneous symmetry breaking in the quantum theory of infinite s...
We pose and resolve a seeming paradox about spontaneous symmetry breaking in the quantum theory of i...
Two alternative accounts of quantum spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) are compared and one of them...
A cornerstone of quantum mechanics is the characterization of symmetries provided by Wigner's theore...
Two alternative accounts of quantum spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) are compared and one of them...
A cornerstone of quantum mechanics is the characterization of symmetries provided by Wigner's theore...
We present a clear and mathematically simple procedure explaining spontaneous symmetry breaking in q...
Beginning with Anderson (1972), spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) in infinite quantum systems is o...
In quantum theory, symmetry has to be defined necessarily in terms of the family of unit rays, the s...
Spontaneous symmetry breaking is a crucial concept in Quantum Field Theory. When a system is invaria...
Beginning with Anderson (1972), spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) in infinite quantum systems is o...
Beginning with Anderson (1972), spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) in infinite quantum systems is o...
Dedicated to the memory of Gérard Emch (1936–2013) Beginning with Anderson (1972), spontaneous symm...
This essay expounds the algebraic framework describing general physical the-ories, within which the ...
International audienceAccording to Wigner theorem, transformations of quantum states which preserve ...
We pose and resolve a puzzle about spontaneous symmetry breaking in the quantum theory of infinite s...
We pose and resolve a seeming paradox about spontaneous symmetry breaking in the quantum theory of i...
Two alternative accounts of quantum spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) are compared and one of them...
A cornerstone of quantum mechanics is the characterization of symmetries provided by Wigner's theore...
Two alternative accounts of quantum spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) are compared and one of them...
A cornerstone of quantum mechanics is the characterization of symmetries provided by Wigner's theore...
We present a clear and mathematically simple procedure explaining spontaneous symmetry breaking in q...
Beginning with Anderson (1972), spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) in infinite quantum systems is o...
In quantum theory, symmetry has to be defined necessarily in terms of the family of unit rays, the s...
Spontaneous symmetry breaking is a crucial concept in Quantum Field Theory. When a system is invaria...
Beginning with Anderson (1972), spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) in infinite quantum systems is o...
Beginning with Anderson (1972), spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) in infinite quantum systems is o...
Dedicated to the memory of Gérard Emch (1936–2013) Beginning with Anderson (1972), spontaneous symm...
This essay expounds the algebraic framework describing general physical the-ories, within which the ...
International audienceAccording to Wigner theorem, transformations of quantum states which preserve ...