Authors |
|
Abstract |
Most philosophical discussion of the particle concept that is afforded by quantum field theory has focused on free systems. This paper is devoted to a systematic investigation of whether the particle concept for free systems can be extended to interacting systems. The possible methods of accomplishing this are considered and all are found unsatisfactory. Therefore, an interacting system cannot be interpreted in terms of particles. As a consequence, quantum field theory does not support the inclusion of particles in our ontology. In contrast to much of the recent discussion on the particle concept derived from quantum field theory, this argument does not rely on the assumption that a particulate entity be localizable.
|
Keywords | No keywords specified (fix it) |
Categories | (categorize this paper) |
Reprint years | 2007, 2008 |
DOI | 10.1016/j.shpsb.2008.05.003 |
Options |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Download options
References found in this work BETA
No Place for Particles in Relativistic Quantum Theories?Hans Halvorson & Rob Clifton - 2002 - Philosophy of Science 69 (1):1-28.
Are Rindler Quanta Real? Inequivalent Particle Concepts in Quantum Field Theory.Rob Clifton & Hans Halvorson - 2001 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 52 (3):417-470.
An Interpretative Introduction to Quantum Field Theory.Paul Teller - 1996 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 47 (1):152-153.
Particle Labels and the Theory of Indistinguishable Particles in Quantum Mechanics.Michael Redhead & Paul Teller - 1992 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 43 (2):201-218.
View all 18 references / Add more references
Citations of this work BETA
Scientific Realism Made Effective.Porter Williams - 2019 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 70 (1):209-237.
Taking Particle Physics Seriously: A Critique of the Algebraic Approach to Quantum Field Theory.David Wallace - 2010 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 42 (2):116-125.
The Development of Renormalization Group Methods for Particle Physics: Formal Analogies Between Classical Statistical Mechanics and Quantum Field Theory.Doreen Fraser - 2020 - Synthese 197 (7):3027-3063.
Against Field Interpretations of Quantum Field Theory.David John Baker - 2009 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 60 (3):585-609.
Emergence Without Limits: The Case of Phonons.Alexander Franklin & Eleanor Knox - 2018 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 64:68-78.
View all 53 citations / Add more citations
Similar books and articles
A Theory of Causality: Causality=Interaction (as Defined by a Suitable Quantum Field Theory). [REVIEW]Adrian Heathcote - 1989 - Erkenntnis 31 (1):77 - 108.
Are Rindler Quanta Real? Inequivalent Particle Concepts in Quantum Field Theory.Rob Clifton & Hans Halvorson - 2001 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 52 (3):417-470.
Locality, Localization, and the Particle Concept: Topics in the Foundations of Quantum Field Theory.Hans Halvorson - 2001 - Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh
Quantum Field Theory for Philosophers.Michael Redhead - 1982 - PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association 1982:57 - 99.
Objects or Events?: Towards an Ontology for Quantum Field Theory.Andreas Bartels - 1999 - Philosophy of Science 66 (3):184.
No Place for Particles in Relativistic Quantum Theories?Hans Halvorson & Rob Clifton - 2002 - Philosophy of Science 69 (1):1-28.
Analytics
Added to PP index
2009-01-28
Total views
311 ( #34,489 of 2,519,649 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
24 ( #36,310 of 2,519,649 )
2009-01-28
Total views
311 ( #34,489 of 2,519,649 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
24 ( #36,310 of 2,519,649 )
How can I increase my downloads?
Downloads