2019/06/27 by Ian H. Redmount, Redmount, Ian H.
Physics and Astronomy · #Experimental and Theoretical Physics Studies #FOS: Physical sciences #History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph) #Physics Education (physics.ed-ph) #Quantum Mechanics and Applications
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1908.01579
openalex publication_date 2019/06/27 · openalex created_date 2019/08/13 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Quantum field theory has formed the conceptual framework of most of physics for more than sixty years. It incorporates a complete revision of our conception of the nature of matter and existence itself. Yet it is rarely taught, or even mentioned, in introductory physics---from high school, college, and university survey courses through upper-division "modern physics" courses. This omission is not necessary: This paper describes an approach through which the fundamental concepts and consequent insights of quantum field theory can be grasped, building upon familiar notions from classical and quantum mechanics.