The boundary of a boundary principle in field theories and the issue of austerity of the laws of physics

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Mathematical Physics (New York); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.529519· OSTI ID:5217449

Kheyfets, A ^[1]; Miller, W A ^[2]

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1. Department of Mathematics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina (USA)
2. T-6 Group, M.S. B288, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico (USA)

The boundary of a boundary principle has been suggested by J. A. Wheeler as a realization of the austerity idea in field theories. This principle is described in three basic field theories---electrodynamics, Yang--Mills theory, and general relativity. It is demonstrated that it supplies a unified geometric interpretation of the source current in each of the three theories in terms of a generalized E. Cartan moment of rotation. The extent to which the boundary of a boundary principle represents the austerity principle is discussed. It is concluded that it works in a way analogous to thermodynamic relations and it is argued that deeper principles might be needed to comprehend the nature of austerity.

• OSTI ID: 5217449
• Journal Information: Journal of Mathematical Physics (New York); (United States), Vol. 32:11; ISSN 0022-2488
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
DIFFERENTIAL GEOMETRY
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
YANG-MILLS THEORY
CURRENTS
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
SYMMETRY GROUPS
THERMODYNAMICS
UNIFIED-FIELD THEORIES
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
FIELD THEORIES
GEOMETRY
MATHEMATICS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
657000* - Theoretical & Mathematical Physics