skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Symmetries in Physics

Journal Article · · AIP Conference Proceedings
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3495652· OSTI ID:21426552
 [1]
  1. Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Apartado Postal 70-543, Mexico D. F., C.P. 04510 (Mexico)

The purpose of this course is to study the evolution of the symmetry concept and establish its influence in the knowledge of the fundamental laws of nature. Physicist have been using the symmetry concept in two ways: to solve problems and to search for new understanding of the world around us. In quantum physics symmetry plays a key role in gaining an understanding of the physical laws governing the behavior of matter and field systems. It provides, generally, a shortcut based on geometry for discovering the secrets of the Universe. Because it is believed that the laws of physics are invariant under discrete and continuous transformation operations of the space and time, there are continuous symmetries, for example, energy and momentum together with discrete ones corresponding to charge, parity and time reversal operations.

OSTI ID:
21426552
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1271, Issue 1; Conference: 6. Mexican nuclear physics school, Mexico City (Mexico), 22 Jun - 3 Jul 2009; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3495652; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English