Physical Significance of Noether Symmetries

Abstract

In this paper, we will trace the development of the use of symmetry in discussing the theory of motion initiated by Emmy Noether in 1918. Though it started with its use in classical mechanics, and has been heavily used in engineering applications of mechanics, it came into its own in relativity, and quantum theory and their applications in particle physics and field theory. It will be beyond the scope of this article to explain the quantum field theory applications in any detail, but the base for understanding it will be provided here. We will also go on to discuss an insight from some more mathematical developments related to Noether symmetry.