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International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

176723

Relativity and quantum field theory

Jonathan Bain

pp. 129-146

Abstract

Relativistic quantum field theories (RQFTs) are invariant under the action of the Poincaré group, the symmetry group of Minkowski spacetime. Non-relativistic quantum field theories (NQFTs) are invariant under the action of the symmetry group of a classical spacetime; i.e., a spacetime that minimally admits absolute spatial and temporal metrics. This essay is concerned with cashing out two implications of this basic difference. First, under a Received View, RQFTs do not admit particle interpretations. I will argue that the concept of particle that informs this view is motivated by non-relativistic intuitions associated with the structure of classical spacetimes, and hence should be abandoned. Second, the relations between RQFTs and NQFTs also suggest that routes to quantum gravity are more varied than is typically acknowledged. The second half of this essay is concerned with mapping out some of this conceptual space.

Publication details

Published in:

Petkov Vesselin (2010) Space, time, and spacetime: physical and philosophical implications of Minkowski's unification of space and time. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 129-146

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-13538-5_5

Full citation:

Bain Jonathan (2010) „Relativity and quantum field theory“, In: V. Petkov (ed.), Space, time, and spacetime, Dordrecht, Springer, 129–146.