How is spontaneous symmetry breaking possible? Understanding Wigner's theorem in light of unitary inequivalence

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftReviewForskningfagfællebedømt

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.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftStudies in history and philosophy of modern physics
Vol/bind44
Udgave nummer4
Sider (fra-til)464-469
ISSN1355-2198
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2013
Eksternt udgivetJa

ID: 289118444