Blum, Alexander S. and Fraser, James D. (2024) Perturbative Causality. [Preprint]

Text Perturbative Causality preprint.pdf Download (728kB)

Abstract

This paper examines the development of causal perturbation theory, a reformulation of perturbative quantum field theory (QFT) starting from a causality condition rather than a time-evolution equation. We situate this program alongside other causality-based reformulations of relativistic quantum theory which flourished in the post-war period, contrasting it in particular with axiomatic QFT. Whereas the axiomatic QFT tradition tried to move beyond the perturbative expansion, causal perturbation theory can be thought of as a foundational investigation of this approximation method itself. Unearthing this largely forgotten research program helps clarify questions of contemporary philosophical interest, for instance about the interpretative significance of the ultraviolet divergences which appear in the series expansion, but also help us understand why causality conditions became so ubiquitous in post-war high-energy theory.

---

Export/Citation:

EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Blum, Alexander S. ablum@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de Fraser, James D. jamesf09@hotmail.co.uk
Keywords:	Quantum field theory, Approximation, Causality
Subjects:	General Issues > Causation General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory
Depositing User:	Mr James Fraser
Date Deposited:	13 Oct 2024 12:28
Last Modified:	13 Oct 2024 12:28
Item ID:	24053
Subjects:	General Issues > Causation General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory
Date:	11 October 2024
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24053

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item