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Unification of force and substance

Frank Wilczek
Published 25 July 2016.DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2015.0257
Frank Wilczek
Center for Theoretical Physics, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Abstract

Maxwell’s mature presentation of his equations emphasized the unity of electromagnetism and mechanics, subsuming both as ‘dynamical systems’. That intuition of unity has proved both fruitful, as a source of pregnant concepts, and broadly inspiring. A deep aspect of Maxwell’s work is its use of redundant potentials, and the associated requirement of gauge symmetry. Those concepts have become central to our present understanding of fundamental physics, but they can appear to be rather formal and esoteric. Here I discuss two things: the physical significance of gauge invariance, in broad terms; and some tantalizing prospects for further unification, building on that concept, that are visible on the horizon today. If those prospects are realized, Maxwell’s vision of the unity of field and substance will be brought to a new level.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Unifying physics and technology in light of Maxwell's equations’.

Footnotes

  • Speech presented at Unifying physics and technology in light of Maxwell’s equations, Discussion Meeting at the Royal Society, London, 16–17 November 2015, celebrating the 150th anniversary of Maxwell's equations.

  • One contribution of 7 to a discussion meeting issue ‘Unifying physics and technology in light of Maxwell's equations’.

  • Accepted April 19, 2016.
  • © 2016 The Author(s)
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28 August 2016
Volume 374, issue 2075
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, 				Physical and Engineering Sciences: 374 (2075)
  • Table of Contents
Discussion meeting issue ‘Unifying physics and technology in light of Maxwell's equations’ organized and edited by John Ellis, Roy Pike and Anatoly Zayats

Keywords

gauge invariance
unification
magnetic monopole
supersymmetry
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Unification of force and substance
Frank Wilczek
Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 2016 374 20150257; DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2015.0257. Published 25 July 2016
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Unification of force and substance

Frank Wilczek
Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 2016 374 20150257; DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2015.0257. Published 25 July 2016

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Article reuse

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • 1. Introduction
    • 2. Gauge symmetry
    • 3. Unification of quantum numbers
    • 4. Visual summary
    • 5. Unification of coupling strengths
    • 6. Prospect
    • Competing interests
    • Funding
    • Footnotes
    • References
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See related subject areas:

  • particle physics
  • quantum physics
  • high-energy physics
  • gauge theory
  • electromagnetism

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