Gauge Symmetry in Shape Dynamics

Abstract

C. N. Yang's ideas about local gauge symmetry and non-integrable phases have been enormously fertile sources of inspiration in fundamental physics and in the quantum theory of matter. They also arise naturally in describing the dynamics of deformable bodies. Here I extend previous discussions of the gauge symmetry of deformable bodies in several directions, bringing in an arbitrary number of dimensions, general time-dependence, conservation laws and adiabatic residuals. I briefly indicate other potential applications of the conceptual framework.