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History and Philosophy of Physics papers — page 51

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On the Classification between -Ontic and -Epistemic Ontological Models
Harrigan and Spekkens (2010) provided a categorization of quantum ontological models classifying them as -ontic or -epistemic if the quantum state describes respectively either a physical…
Andrea Oldofredi, Cristian LopezJun 10, 2020
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The Eclipse of 21 June 1629 in Beijing in the Context of the Reform of the Chinese Calendar
This paper examines the predictions made by Chinese, Muslim and Jesuit astronomers of the eclipse of 21 June 1629 in Beijing, allegedly the event that determined Emperor Chongzhen's resolution to…
Sperello di Serego Alighieri, Elisabetta CorsiJun 10, 2020
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The concept of velocity in the history of Brownian motion -- From physics to mathematics and back
Interest in Brownian motion was shared by different communities: this phenomenon was first observed by the botanist Robert Brown in 1827, then theorised by physicists in the 1900s, and eventually…
Arthur GenthonJun 9, 2020
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Pacotte tree networks, graph theory and projective geometry
The notion of tree network has sparked renewed interest in recent years, particularly in computer science and biology (neural network). However, this notion is usually interpreted in an extremely…
Daniel ParrochiaJun 9, 2020
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From Time Asymmetry to Quantum Entanglement: The Humean Unification
Two of the most difficult problems in the foundations of physics are (1) what gives rise to the arrow of time and (2) what the ontology of quantum mechanics is. I propose a unified 'Humean' solution…
Eddy Keming ChenJun 9, 2020
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The Solar Eclipse of the Xia Dynasty: A Review
We present a review on the renowned solar eclipse in the Chinese book "Shujing" describing the oldest account of this kind. After balancing the arguments on the time, place, and the celestial stage,…
Emil KhalisiJun 8, 2020
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On Feynman's handwritten notes on electromagnetism and the idea of introducing potentials before fields
In his recently discovered handwritten notes on "An alternate way to handle electrodynamics" dated on 1963, Richard P. Feynman speculated with the idea of getting the inhomogeneous Maxwell's…
José A. Heras, Ricardo HerasJun 8, 2020
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Fundamental Nomic Vagueness
If there are fundamental laws of nature, can they fail to be exact? In this paper, I consider the possibility that some fundamental laws are vague. I call this phenomenon 'fundamental nomic…
Eddy Keming ChenJun 8, 2020
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R. F\"urth's 1933 paper "On certain relations between classical Statistics and Quantum Mechanics" ["\"Uber einige Beziehungen zwischen klassischer Statistik und Quantenmechanik", Zeitschrift f\"ur Physik, 81 143-162]
We present a translation of the 1933 paper by R. F\"urth in which a profound analogy between quantum fluctuations and Brownian motion is pointed out. This paper opened in some sense the way to the…
Luca Peliti, Paolo Muratore-GinanneschiJun 5, 2020
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Two paths towards circulation time derivative (Maxwell's E revisited)
The time derivative of the circulation of a vector field A over a moving and deforming closed curve, $ dd t A · d…
Dragan V RedzicJun 3, 2020
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Embracing undecidability: Cognitive needs and theory evaluation
There are many ways we can not know. Even in systems that we created ourselves, as, for example, systems in mathematical logic, Go\"edel and Tarski's theorems impose limits on what we can know. As we…
André C. R. MartinsJun 3, 2020
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New Difficulties for the Past Hypothesis
Many macroscopic physical processes are known to occur in a time-directed way despite the apparent time-symmetry of the known fundamental laws. A popular explanation is to postulate an unimaginably…
Sean GrybJun 2, 2020
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Birds, Frogs, and the Measurement Problem
Physicists and philosophers alike have pondered the measurement problem in quantum mechanics since the beginning of the theory nearly a century ago. Marcel Reginatto and I (2013) have made the case…
Stephen BoughnJun 1, 2020
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Brainstorming about the geometric structures in the Wolfram model of fundamental physics
In this essay, we explore the geometric structures involved in the Wolfram model of fundamental physics. Furthermore, we propose some directions of research aiming to get the bosons and fermions out…
Jose Manuel Rodriguez CaballeroJun 1, 2020
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The Causal Closure of Physics in Real World Contexts
The causal closure of physics is usually discussed in a context free way. Here I discuss it in the context of engineering systems and biology, where strong emergence takes place due to a combination…
George F R EllisJun 1, 2020
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Space-Time in Quantum Theory
Quantum Theory, similar to Relativity Theory, requires a new concept of space-time, imposed by a universal constant. While velocity of light c not being infinite calls for a redefinition of…
Herbert CapellmannMay 31, 2020
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Structural study of the Notre-Dame ancient charpente
The timber roofing structure (charpente or combles, in French) of the cathedral Notre-Dame, destroyed by the fire of April 15th, 2019, is studied. The aim is twofold: on the one hand, it is…
Paolo VannucciMay 26, 2020
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How to Select Observers
A number of problems in physics, mathematics, and philosophy involve observers in given situations which lead to debates about whether observer-specific information should affect the probability for…
Robert GaristoMay 25, 2020
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Out of Nowhere: Duality
This is a chapter of the planned monograph "Out of Nowhere: The Emergence of Spacetime in Quantum Theories of Gravity", co-authored by Nick Huggett and Christian W\"uthrich and under contract with…
Nick Huggett, Christian WüthrichMay 25, 2020
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Two cultures: "them and us'' in the academic world
Impact of academic research onto the non-academic world is of increasing importance as authorities seek return on public investment. Impact opens new opportunities for what are known as "professional…
R. KennaMay 25, 2020
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The Concept of Fact in German Physics around 1900: A Comparison between Mach and Einstein
The concept of fact has a history. Over the past centuries, physicists have appropriated it in various ways. In this article, we compare Ernst Mach and Albert Einstein's interpretations of the…
Elske de Waal, Sjang L. ten HagenMay 25, 2020
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The local balance laws for energy, momentum and entropy: how they came into being, and what was their destiny
The historical process of the genesis of the extensive or substance-like quantities took place in two steps. First, global conservation or non-conservation was discovered. Only later did it become…
Friedrich HerrmannMay 24, 2020
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Out of Nowhere: Spacetime from causality: causal set theory
This is a chapter of the planned monograph "Out of Nowhere: The Emergence of Spacetime in Quantum Theories of Gravity", co-authored by Nick Huggett and Christian W\"uthrich and under contract with…
Christian Wüthrich, Nick HuggettMay 21, 2020
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Physics and the Pythagorean Theorem
Pythagoras' theorem lies at the heart of physics as well as mathematics, yet its historical origins are obscure. We highlight a purely pictorial, gestalt-like proof that may have originated during…
James Overduin, Richard Conn HenryMay 21, 2020
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String Theory, Loop Quantum Gravity and Eternalism
Eternalism, the view that what we regard locally as being located in the past, the present and the future equally exists, is the best ontological account of temporal existence in line with special…
Baptiste Le BihanMay 19, 2020
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