Analogies in Physics

Abstract

This thesis investigates what tools are appropriate for answering the question how it is possible to develop such a complex theory in physics as the standard model of particle physics with only an access via electromagnetic interaction of otherwise unobservable objects and their interactions it was investigated what the tools are to do this. The answer is found in the usage of essentially two types of analogies. These two types are explanatory and predictive analogies. Explanatory analogies are needed to link observed new phenomena to accepted scientific theoretical models of well-known phenomena, predictive analogies to find in possible experiments further new phenomena not already observed. The possibilities of observation and the related conditions are the main reason to use analogies as well in the development of theories, as in the representation of experiments especially in high energy physics, because there we find only charged particles observable via electromagnetic interaction. Other neutral particles with no charge are concludable only by visualization of their assumed tracks filling the gaps between the tracks of charged and therefore in some way observable particles. Today this is only possible with the help of computers evaluating the huge amount of data delivered by extremely complex detectors using the electromagnetic interaction in different ways. This visualization is also a kind of analogy because in fact all the particles are not observable directly, only their electromagnetic interaction if it occurs. My investigation considered reasons for the following questions: Why in philosophy of science analogies were neglected during about one hundred years? How can analogies be characterized? And at last, as point of origination for my investigation where have analogies played an important role the development of high energy physics from the explanation of the constitution of the atomic core to the postulation of quarks, mainly in original publications? Important in this task is especially the consideration of the context which determines in some way the possible directions of development, however, no direction of development in general. The intention in my thesis was to shed some more light on the epistemological side of scientific work in physics and how analogies could help enabling this task. The method used was primarily text analysis of mostly original publications of leading physicists.