Google, IBM & Meta Certificates — All 10,000+ Courses at 40% Off
One annual plan covers every course and certificate on Coursera. 40% off for a limited time.
Get Full Access
Learn the fundamental concepts of superselection sector theory in this 58-minute workshop lecture delivered at Harvard CMSA's Workshop on Quantum Field Theory and Topological Phases via Homotopy Theory and Operator Algebras. Explore the motivation behind superselection sectors and master the basic mathematical framework that underpins this important area of quantum field theory. Discover how superselection rules arise naturally in quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, and understand their role in describing physical systems where certain observables cannot be coherently superposed. Examine the mathematical foundations that connect superselection sectors to operator algebras and their applications in understanding topological phases of matter.
