Emergent Quantum Mechanics and Emergent Symmetries
High Energy Physics - Theory
2008-11-26 v1
Abstract
Quantum mechanics is 'emergent' if a statistical treatment of large scale phenomena in a locally deterministic theory requires the use of quantum operators. These quantum operators may allow for symmetry transformations that are not present in the underlying deterministic system. Such theories allow for a natural explanation of the existence of gauge equivalence classes (gauge orbits), including the equivalence classes generated by general coordinate transformations. Thus, local gauge symmetries and general coordinate invariance could be emergent symmetries, and this might lead to new alleys towards understanding the flatness problem of the Universe.
Cite
@article{arxiv.0707.4568,
title = {Emergent Quantum Mechanics and Emergent Symmetries},
author = {Gerard 't Hooft},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0707.4568},
year = {2008}
}
Comments
10 pages, 1 figure. Presented at PASCOS 13, Imperial College, London, July 6, 2007