Step into an infinite world of stories
Non-Fiction
Quantum Field Theory (QFT) is the framework that unifies quantum mechanics and special relativity, providing a theoretical foundation for describing fundamental particles and their interactions. Unlike quantum mechanics, which describes particles as wavefunctions evolving in time, QFT treats particles as excitations of underlying fields that pervade all of space. This shift in perspective is necessary to accommodate relativistic effects and to describe processes such as particle creation and annihilation, which are not possible in non-relativistic quantum mechanics.
The motivation for QFT arises from the limitations of single-particle quantum mechanics when applied to high-energy physics. In relativistic systems, particles can be created and destroyed in interactions, as seen in high-energy collisions and radioactive decays. Traditional quantum mechanics, which treats particles as fixed entities, cannot account for such processes. By formulating particles as field excitations, QFT allows for a consistent description of multi-particle interactions and naturally incorporates the principles of special relativity.
At its core, QFT extends the principles of classical field theory to quantum systems. Classical field theories, such as Maxwell’s electrodynamics, describe how physical quantities vary across space and time. In QFT, these fields are quantized, meaning that their excitations correspond to discrete particles. The simplest example is the Klein-Gordon field, which describes spin-zero particles like mesons. The quantization of this field leads to the interpretation of its solutions as particle states, obeying relativistic energy-momentum relations.
© 2025 Daphne Haydens LLC (Audiobook): 9798318041723
Release date
Audiobook: 15 March 2025
Tags
Over 950 000 titles
Kids Mode (child safe environment)
Download books for offline access
Cancel anytime
For those who want to listen and read without limits.
1 account
Unlimited Access
Unlimited listening
Cancel anytime
For those who want to listen and read without limits.
1 account
Unlimited Access
Unlimited listening
Cancel anytime
For those who want to listen and read without limits.
1 account
Unlimited Access
Unlimited listening
Cancel anytime
For those who want to share stories with family and friends.
2-3 accounts
Unlimited Access
Unlimited listening
Cancel anytime
2 accounts
S$14.90 /monthEnglish
Singapore