Effective Theories in Physics: From Planetary Orbits to Elementary Particle Masses

Effective Theoriesin Physics......Page 2
Preface......Page 4
Acknowledgments......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Acronyms......Page 9
1.1 Definition of Effective Theories and Their  Purpose......Page 10
1.2 Galileo\'s Law of Falling Bodies as an Effective Theory......Page 11
References......Page 15
2.1 Basics of the Harmonic Oscillator......Page 16
2.2 Ubiquity of the Harmonic Oscillator......Page 17
2.3 First Theory......Page 18
2.4 Second Theory......Page 19
2.5 Fancy Explanations......Page 20
2.6 Third Theory......Page 21
2.7 Deep Theory Conjecture......Page 22
2.8 Ultimate Test?......Page 23
3.1 Introduction......Page 24
3.2 Orbits in Newton\'s Theory......Page 25
3.2.1 Orbital Solution......Page 26
3.2.2 The Hamiltonian and Veff Description......Page 27
3.3.1 1/r2 Correction to the Central Potential......Page 29
3.3.2 1/r3 Correction to the Central Potential......Page 31
3.4 Philosophical Challenges to Newton\'s Theory......Page 33
3.5 Effective Theories......Page 35
3.5.1 Application to Newton\'s Gravitation......Page 37
3.5.2 Inevitable Perihelion Precession......Page 38
3.6 Mercury\'s Anomalous Perihelion Precession......Page 39
3.6.1 Analyzing Bob\'s 1/r2 Correction Theory......Page 40
3.6.2 Analyzing Alice\'s 1/r3 Correction Theory......Page 43
3.6.3 Gerber\'s ``Utterly Worthless\'\' Theory......Page 44
3.7 Perturbation from General Relativity......Page 46
3.8 Conclusions......Page 49
References......Page 50
4.1 Introduction......Page 52
4.2 The Problem of Mass in Chiral Gauge Theories......Page 54
4.3 Standard Model Electroweak Theory......Page 57
4.4 The Special Case of Neutrino Masses......Page 62
4.5 Natural Effective Theories, the Higgs Boson,  and the Hierarchy Problem......Page 64
References......Page 68
5.1 Introduction......Page 70
5.2 The Standard Model\'s Triumphs and Woes......Page 71
5.3 Theory Choice Among Practitioners......Page 72
5.5 Richter\'s IBE Criteria......Page 73
5.6 Thagard\'s IBE Criteria......Page 75
5.7 Non-negotiable Attributes of a Best Explanation......Page 76
5.8 Effective Field Theories and Consistency......Page 78
5.10 Summary: The Preeminence of Consistency......Page 79
5.11 Implications for the LHC and Beyond......Page 80
References......Page 81