What Other Symmetries Exist in Superfluids?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the symmetries present in superfluids, specifically exploring the global U(1) symmetry mentioned in literature and inquiring about other potential symmetries. The scope includes theoretical aspects of superfluidity and references to academic texts and articles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note the existence of a global U(1) symmetry in superfluids and inquire about additional symmetries.
  • One participant references Kardar's "Statistical Physics of Particles" but is uncertain about the discussion of symmetries in superfluid He^4.
  • Another participant mentions an article discussing U(1) symmetry in superfluid neutron stars, highlighting the phonon as a Goldstone mode associated with symmetry breaking.
  • One participant suggests that the absence of other symmetries in search results may imply that no other symmetries are currently known.
  • Another participant argues that since U(1) is described as the simplest symmetry, there must be other symmetries, citing Schmitt's book.
  • A later reply introduces the idea of space-time symmetry transformations, including Galilean symmetry, as relevant to typical superfluids described by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the existence of other symmetries beyond U(1), with some suggesting that additional symmetries may exist while others question their known status. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the identification of other symmetries in superfluids.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific texts and articles, but there are limitations in the discussion regarding the completeness of the information on symmetries and the dependence on definitions of superfluidity.

Superfluid universe
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I am reading "Introduction to superfluidity" by Andreas Schmitt. He mentions the global symmetry U(1). What other symmetries are there in superfluids?

Thank you.
 
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Yes. I can add more information. For example, I've read that in superfluids there is a global U(1) symmetry. I was asking if there are other symmetries as well. :)
 
You can read the last section of Kardar's Statistical Physics of particles the 7.7 section that discusses the superfluid He^4.

I am not sure he says anything about the symmetries of this supefluid, but that's all that I read about superfluid.
 
Thank you, MathematicalPhysicist.

Another example : https://arxiv.org/pdf/1206.3906.pdf This article talks about global u(1) symmetry in superfluid neutron stars. It says that the goldstone mode for that symmetry breaking is a phonon. I was asking for other symmetries that exist in superfluids.

Thank you.
 
If you searched google for "symmetries of superfluids" and found that there's no mention of other symmetries then it might mean there are no currently known symmetries other than U(1).
 
Hello Mathematicalphysicist. In the book "Introduction to Superfluidity" by Andreas Schmitt, it was mentioned that U(1) was the simplest symmetry, which means there are other symmetries too. ( in my opinion)

https://books.google.bg/books?id=vtQlBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33&dq=introduction+to+superfluidity+simplest+symmetry&source=bl&ots=8e-6J1Ifn4&sig=KEovmOSYsVYIrJhU_5v31A2wE7k&hl=bg&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-rKqU2ZbaAhVQyqYKHYS8BnUQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=introduction to superfluidity simplest symmetry&f=false

page 33 says 'U(1) is the simplest continuous symmetry given by one real parameter"
 
Superfluid universe said:
What other symmetries are there in superfluids?
It depends on what kind of superfluid you have in mind, but for typical ones which I assume you have in mind (described by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation) you also have space-time symmetry transformations, instead of the field transformations you have already mentioned (U1 gauge symmetry). For instance Galilean symmetry, which includes translations, rotations and boosts to reference frames moving with uniform velocity.
 

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