Interpretive Introduction to Quantum Field Theory (eBook)

Paul Teller (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2020
192 Seiten
Princeton University Press (Verlag)
978-0-691-21629-4 (ISBN)

Infos

Quantum mechanics is a subject that has captured the imagination of a surprisingly broad range of thinkers, including many philosophers of science. Quantum field theory, however, is a subject that has been discussed mostly by physicists. This is the first book to present quantum field theory in a manner that makes it accessible to philosophers. Because it presents a lucid view of the theory and debates that surround the theory, An Interpretive Introduction to Quantum Field Theory will interest students of physics as well as students of philosophy. Paul Teller presents the basic ideas of quantum field theory in a way that is understandable to readers who are familiar with non-relativistic quantum mechanics. He provides information about the physics of the theory without calculational detail, and he enlightens readers on how to think about the theory physically. Along the way, he dismantles some popular myths and clarifies the novel ways in which quantum field theory is both a theory about fields and about particles. His goal is to raise questions about the philosophical implications of the theory and to offer some tentative interpretive views of his own. This provocative and thoughtful book challenges philosophers to extend their thinking beyond the realm of quantum mechanics and it challenges physicists to consider the philosophical issues that their explorations have encouraged.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 4.8.2020
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Quantenphysik
• Schlagworte: asymptotic freedom • Bare Particulars • Bose–Einstein statistics • Canonical commutation relation • canonical quantization • classical electromagnetism • Classical Field Theory • classical mechanics • Classical physics • Coherent states • commutative property • Compton wavelength • Confinement • Conjugate variables • coupling constant • Creation and annihilation operators • Degrees of freedom (mechanics) • determinables • Dirac equation • Dirac spinor • dispositions • Eigenfunction • Electric Field • Electromagnetic field • electromagnetism • energy level • Energy operator • Equations of motion • Equiprobability • Expectation value (quantum mechanics) • Fermi–Dirac statistics • Fermion • field configuration • Field (physics) • First quantization • Fock space • Foundations of Physics • Gauge Theory • general solutions • Gravitational Field • gravitational potential • Haag's theorem • Harmonic oscillator • Heisenberg picture • Heuristic (engineering) • heuristic substitutions • Hidden variable theory • hilbert space • idealization • impact parameters • Infinitesimal generator (stochastic processes) • Instrumentalism • Interaction picture • Interpretations • Interpretations of quantum mechanics • Introduction to quantum mechanics • Klein–Gordon equation • Lagrangian (field theory) • loop diagrams • magnetic susceptibility • mass shell • Mathematical problem • Maxwell–Boltzmann statistics • measurement problem • Momentum operator • negative energy solutions • Neutrino • number operators • ontology of quantum theories • particle detector • Particle physics • path ntegrals • Perturbation theory (quantum mechanics) • philosophy of science • Photon • physicist • positron • Probability • probability amplitude • Probability Theory • Propensities • Proportionality (mathematics) • quanta • Quantity • Quantization of the electromagnetic field • Quantum Chromodynamics • quantum electrodynamics • quantum field theory • quantum mechanics • Quantum number • quantum state • quantum statistical mechanics • quantum superposition • quantum system • radiative corrections • Realism • Relativistic wave equations • renormalization • Scalar (physics) • Schrödinger equation • scientific theory • Second Quantization • Simultaneity • S-Matrix • S-Matrix Theory • Special relativity • Spin–statistics theorem • State function • Statistical Mechanics • Tangent Space • Test particle • theoretical physics • Theories • theory • Thermodynamic Equilibrium • Time evolution • Uncertainty Principle • Vacuum expectation value • Vacuum fluctuations • Variable (mathematics) • Virtual particle • wave equation • wave function renormalization • Wave–particle duality • Zero point energy
• ISBN-10: 0-691-21629-0 / 0691216290
• ISBN-13: 978-0-691-21629-4 / 9780691216294