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Particles, Cutoffs and Inequivalent Representations. Fraser and Wallace on Quantum Field Theory

Egg, Matthias and Lam, Vincent and Oldofredi, Andrea (2017) Particles, Cutoffs and Inequivalent Representations. Fraser and Wallace on Quantum Field Theory. [Preprint]

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Abstract

We critically review the recent debate between Doreen Fraser and David Wallace on the interpretation of quantum field theory, with the aim of identifying where the core of the disagreement lies. We show that, despite appearances, their conflict does not concern the existence of particles or the occurrence of unitarily inequivalent representations. Instead, the dispute ultimately turns on the very definition of what a quantum field theory is. We further illustrate the fundamental differences between the two approaches by comparing them both to the Bohmian program in quantum field theory.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Egg, Matthiasmatthias.egg@philo.unibe.ch
Lam, Vincentvincent.lam@unige.ch
Oldofredi, AndreaAndrea.Oldofredi@unil.ch
Keywords: Algebraic quantum field theory; Particle physics; Renormalization; Unitarily inequivalent representations
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory
Depositing User: Dr. Andrea Oldofredi
Date Deposited: 24 Jan 2017 14:30
Last Modified: 24 Jan 2017 14:30
Item ID: 12765
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory
Date: 23 January 2017
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/12765

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