Philosophical Aspects of Quantum Field Theory

According to a regnant criterion of physical equivalence for quantum theories, a quantum field theory (QFT) typically admits continuously many physically inequivalent realizations. This, the second of a two-part introduction to topics in the philosophy of QFT, continues the investigation of this alarming circumstance. It begins with a brief catalog of quantum field theoretic examples of this non-uniqueness, then presents the basics of the algebraic approach to quantum theories, which discloses a structure common even to 'physically inequivalent' realizations of a QFT. Finally, it introduces and evaluates a handful of strategies for interpreting quantum theories in the face of the non-uniqueness of their Hilbert space representations

Equivalence (formal languages · Field (mathematics · Hilbert space · Physics · Pure mathematics · Quantum · Quantum field theory · Quantum gravity · Quantum mechanics · Relationship between string theory and quantum field theory · Theoretical physics · Uniqueness · Mathematics · Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories · Quantum Mechanics and Applications · Relativity and Gravitational Theory

• The fundamentality of fields

  Open Access•Charles T Sebens•Synthese•2022

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• Entanglement as the world-making relation

  Open Access•Rasmus Jaksland•Synthese•2021

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• Infinite Scale Skepticism

  James D Fraser•The British Journal for the…•2023

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• General Relativity

  Robert M Wald•General Relativity•1984

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• Explaining quantum spontaneous symmetry breaking

  Open Access•Chuang Liu, Gérard G Emch•Studies in History and Philosophy…•2005

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• Weyling the time away

  Open Access•Aristidis Arageorgis, John Earman et al.•Studies in History and Philosophy…•2002

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• The fate of ‘particles’ in quantum field theories with interactions

  Open Access•Doreen Fraser•Studies in History and Philosophy…•2008

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• Fulling Non-uniqueness and the Unruh Effect

  Open Access•Aristidis Arageorgis, John Earman et al.•Philosophy of Science•2003

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• A Matter of Degree

  Open Access•Laura Ruetsche•Philosophy of Science•2003

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• No Place for Particles in Relativistic Quantum Theories

  Open Access•Hans Halvorson, Rob Clifton•Philosophy of Science•2002

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• Laws, Symmetry, and Symmetry Breaking

  Open Access•John Earman•Philosophy of Science•2004

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• Are Rindler Quanta Real? Inequivalent Particle Concepts in Quantum Field Theory

  Rob Clifton, Hans Halvorson•The British Journal for the…•2001

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• Antimatter

  David John Baker, Hans Halvorson•The British Journal for the…•2010

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• Against Field Interpretations of Quantum Field Theory

  David John Baker•The British Journal for the…•2009

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• The Hawking Information Loss Paradox

  Gustave Belot, John Earman et al.•The British Journal for the…•1999

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