Symmetry in Physics

Vasilii Iugov, vasilii.iugov@stonybrook.edu

April 3, 2023

1. What is a symmetry? Examples:

(a) Butterfly: reflection symmetry (b) Snowflake: discrete rotational symme-

try

(c) Ping-pong ball: continuous rotational (d) Ping-pong table surface: continuous
symmetry translational and rotatoinal symmetries

Definition: You transform the system in some way, the behaviour doesn’t change.
1a. There are discrete and continuous symmetries.
For a continuous symmetry, the transformation can be as small as you want.
2. Noether’s theorem: there is a conserved quantity corresponding to every continuous symmetry of the system.
Examples:

translational symmetry in space ←→ momentum

translational symmetry in time ←→ energy
rotational symmetry ←→ angular momentum

Turns out, some of the most important laws of nature come from the symmetries of the spacetime, and it’s a mathematical
theorem!
 3. Phase transitions: symmetry is often changed.

3a. Liquid-solid phase transition:

(e) Liquid: continuous symmetry (f) Solid: discrete symmetry

3b. Spontaneous magnetization:

(g) Paramagnetic phase (h) Ferromagnetic phase