Falling cats, parallel parking, and polarized light
Abstract
This paper addresses issues surrounding the concept of geometric phase or ;anholonomy.; Certain physical phenomena apparently require for their explanation and understanding reference to topological/geometric features of some abstract space of parameters. These issues are related to the question of how gauge structures are to be interpreted and whether or not the debate over their ;reality; is really going to be fruitful.
- Publication:
-
Studies in the History and Philosophy of Modern Physics
- Pub Date:
- December 2003
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2003SHPMP..34..527B
- Keywords:
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- Geometric phase;
- Berry phase;
- Aharonov-Bohm effect;
- Gauge theory;
- Fiber bundles;
- Monopoles;
- Polarized light