Discrete Symmetries Underlying Some Continuous Ones: Two Examples From Gravity And Particle Physics

TL;DR

This paper explores how discrete symmetries and unobservable parameters in physical models can give rise to apparent continuous symmetries, with examples from gravity and particle physics.

Contribution

It presents two examples demonstrating the emergence of apparent continuous symmetries from models with discrete symmetries and hidden parameters.

Findings

Discrete symmetries can lead to apparent continuous symmetries.

Unobservable coordinates influence perceived symmetries.

Examples from gravity and particle physics illustrate these concepts.

Abstract

Two examples, not connected at present, from author's papers (Nuovo Cim., 1992, v.105A, p.77 [hep-th/0207210] and GRG, 1999, v.31, p.1431 [gr-qc/0207017]) are considered here in which a physical model has discrete symmetries and additional non-observable coordinates or parameters. Then it is possible to introduce some apparent continuous symmetries of the model for an observer which cannot know values of these additional quantities.