Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Field TheoryTian Yu Cao Quantum field theory is a powerful language for the description of the subatomic constituents of the physical world and the laws and principles that govern them. This book contains up-to-date in-depth analyses, by a group of eminent physicists and philosophers of science, of our present understanding of its conceptual foundations, of the reasons why this understanding has to be revised so that the theory can go further, and of possible directions in which revisions may be promising and productive. These analyses will be of interest to graduate students and research workers in physics who want to know about the foundational problems of their subject. The book will also be of interest to professional philosophers, historians and sociologists of science, because it contains much material for metaphysical and methodological reflections, for historical and cultural analyses, and for sociological analyses of the way in which various factors contribute to the way the foundations are revised. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
algebra amplitude approach argument Ashtekar asymptotic basic classical concept condensed matter physics critical phenomena critical point defined degrees of freedom described Dirac discussion dynamics effective field theories Einstein electrodynamics electromagnetic electrons entities equations example exponents fact fermions Feynman diagrams finite Fisher fixed point Fock space formulation framework function gauge theories geometry gravitational field Gross Hamiltonian Hilbert space idea infinite number infinities interactions intrinsic Jackiw Kadanoff Lagrangian Landau lattice Lorentz invariance low energy manifold mathematical mean measure metric nature observables ontology operator parameters particle physics perturbation philosophers photons Phys physicists problem properties quantization quantum field theory quantum gravity quantum mechanics quantum theory quarks quasi-set question relations relativistic relativity renormalizable renormalization group RG theory S-matrix scale dependence Schrödinger sense solenoid space-time spin standard model statistical mechanics string theory structure supersymmetry symmetry theoretical theorists tion transformations understanding University vacuum variables vector Weinberg Wilson zero
References to this book
The Structural Foundations of Quantum Gravity Dean Rickles,Steven French,Juha T. Saatsi No preview available - 2006 |