Book contents
- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories
- Reviews of the first edition
- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface to the Revised Edition
- Preface to the First Edition
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The Rise of Classical Field Theory
- Part I The Geometrical Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- Part II The Quantum Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- 6 The Rise of Quantum Theory
- 7 The Formation of the Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Field Theory
- 8 The Quantum Field Programme
- Part III The Gauge Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- Appendices
- References
- Name Index
- Subject Index
6 - The Rise of Quantum Theory
from Part II - The Quantum Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 October 2019
- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories
- Reviews of the first edition
- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface to the Revised Edition
- Preface to the First Edition
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The Rise of Classical Field Theory
- Part I The Geometrical Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- Part II The Quantum Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- 6 The Rise of Quantum Theory
- 7 The Formation of the Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Field Theory
- 8 The Quantum Field Programme
- Part III The Gauge Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- Appendices
- References
- Name Index
- Subject Index
Summary
The origin of the relativity theories was closely bound up with the development of electromagnetic concepts, a development that approached a coherent field-theoretical formulation, according to which all actions may vary in a continuous manner. In contrast, quantum theory arose out of the development of atomic concepts, a development that was characterized by the acknowledgment of a fundamental limitation to classical physical ideas when applied to atomic phenomena. This restriction was expressed in the so-called quantum postulate, which attributed to any atomic process an essential discontinuity that was symbolized by Planck’s quantum of action and soon incarnated in quantization condition (commutation or anticommutation relations) and uncertainty relations.
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- Information
- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories , pp. 109 - 124Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2019