In Eleanor Knox & Alistair Wilson (eds.), The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Physics. New York: Routledge. pp. 323-336 (2022)
Authors |
|
Abstract |
The consensus view among philosophers of physics is that relativistic quantum field theory does not describe particles. That is, according to QFT, particles are not fundamental entities. How is this negative conclusion compatible with the positive role that the particle notion plays in particle physics? The first part of this chapter lays out multiple lines of negative argument that all conclude that QFT cannot be given a particle interpretation. These arguments probe the properties of the `particles' in standard formulations of QFT and the limited applicability of `particle' representations. The second part of the chapter surveys proposals for non-fundamental roles that the particle concept plays in particle physics. The conclusion suggests directions for future philosophical research.
|
Keywords | No keywords specified (fix it) |
Categories | (categorize this paper) |
Buy the book |
Find it on Amazon.com
|
Options |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Download options
References found in this work BETA
Interpreting Quantum Theories: The Art of the Possible.Laura Ruetsche - 2011 - Oxford University Press UK.
Scientific Realism Made Effective.Porter Williams - 2019 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 70 (1):209-237.
An Interpretive Introduction to Quantum Field Theory.Paul Teller - 1995 - Princeton University Press.
The Fate of 'Particles' in Quantum Field Theories with Interactions.Doreen Fraser - 2008 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 39 (4):841-859.
Against Field Interpretations of Quantum Field Theory.David John Baker - 2009 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 60 (3):585-609.
View all 22 references / Add more references
Citations of this work BETA
No citations found.
Similar books and articles
Particles, Cutoffs and Inequivalent Representations: Fraser and Wallace on Quantum Field Theory.Matthias Egg, Vincent Lam & Andrea Oldofredi - 2017 - Foundations of Physics 47 (3):453-466.
There Are No Particles, There Are Only Fields.Art Hobson - 2012 - American Journal of Physics 81:211.
The Fate of 'Particles' in Quantum Field Theories with Interactions.Doreen Fraser - 2008 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 39 (4):841-859.
Particle Trajectories for Quantum Field Theory.Jeroen C. Vink - 2018 - Foundations of Physics 48 (2):209-236.
Identity, Superselection Theory, and the Statistical Properties of Quantum Fields.David John Baker - 2013 - Philosophy of Science 80 (2):262-285.
Haunted by the Spectre of Virtual Particles: A Philosophical Reconsideration.Tobias Fox - 2008 - Journal for General Philosophy of Science / Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie 39 (1):35-51.
An Interpretive Introduction to Quantum Field Theory.Paul Teller - 1995 - Princeton University Press.
Localizable Particles in the Classical Limit of Quantum Field Theory.Rory Soiffer, Jonah Librande & Benjamin H. Feintzeig - 2021 - Foundations of Physics 51 (2):1-31.
Quantum Mechanics of Relativistic Spinless Particles.John R. Fanchi & R. Eugene Collins - 1978 - Foundations of Physics 8 (11-12):851-877.
Not Particles, Not Quite Fields: An Ontology for Quantum Field Theory.Tracy Lupher - 2018 - Humana Mente 4 (13):155-173.
Analytics
Added to PP index
2022-01-30
Total views
14 ( #735,280 of 2,519,678 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
13 ( #58,529 of 2,519,678 )
2022-01-30
Total views
14 ( #735,280 of 2,519,678 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
13 ( #58,529 of 2,519,678 )
How can I increase my downloads?
Downloads