Interpreting Quantum Field Theory

泰勒教授与迈克尔·雷德海德教授合作，正在进行一项重大项目，对量子场论进行新的解释。到目前为止，关于这个主题的大多数工作都使用了粒子解释，其复杂性远远低于应用于母体理论量子力学的解释。Teller教授和Redhead教授将基于量子化谐振子的应用，发展他们对量子场论的新解释，并将其构建成一种解释工具，这种解释工具将比粒子方法更忠实地掌握理论。很明显，我们需要这样一种新的解释，因为这个理论提供了我们目前对物质本质的最好解释。目前对其解释的贫乏状态构成了我们对世界的更大科学理解的一个重要缺口。然而，由于量子金融理论的新颖性和复杂性，很难对其做出这样的解释。这项研究将首先展示任何可能被合理地称为粒子解释的不足之处，并发展它们的替代方案。Teller教授和Redhead教授都很有资格进行这项研究。泰勒教授在之前的国家科学基金资助下为我们理解量子力学的哲学基础做出了重大贡献。Redhead教授是一位著名的物理学家和哲学家。他们的合作有望对我们理解关于物质本质的最可怕的理论做出非常重要的贡献。他们计划进行的研究对物理学和哲学都有很大的价值。

Professor Teller, in collaboration with Professor Michael Redhead, is undertaking a major project to produce a new interpretation of quantum field theory. Heretofore, most work on this topic has used a particle interpretation with much less sophistication than has been applied to the interpretation of the parent theory, quantum mechanics. Professors Teller and Redhead will develop their new interpretation of quantum field theory based on an application of the quantized harmonic oscillator and will build this into an interpretive tool which will give a much more faithful grip on the theory than does the particle approach. That such a new interpretation is needed is clear because this theory provides our currently best explanation of the nature of matter. The current impoverished state of its interpretation constitutes an important gap in our larger scientific understanding of the world. Yet such an interpretation of QFT has been difficult to construct because of the newness and complexity of the theory. This study will begin by showing the inadequacy of anything which could plausibly be called a particle interpretation as well as develop their alternative. Both Professors Teller and Redhead are well qualified to carry out this research. Professor Teller has made significant contributions under previous NSF grants to our understanding of the philosophical foundations of quantum mechanics. Professor Redhead is a noted physicist and philosopher. Their collaboration promises to make a very significant contribution to our understanding of the most formidable of theories concerning the nature of matter. Their projected study will be of great value for physics and philosophy alike.