A First Idea of Quantum Field Theory - 20 Part Series - Comments

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a 20-part series on Quantum Field Theory (QFT) presented in a PF Insights post. Participants comment on the structure of the series, the functionality of links, and specific results related to QFT, including theorems and references to literature.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express concern about the number of links in the series, questioning whether multiple links are necessary.
  • Others clarify that the links are intended to provide additional information and are not mandatory to follow.
  • There are reports of broken links, with some participants noting specific examples and others indicating that these issues have been addressed.
  • One participant requests examples of results that require rigorous QFT for proof, prompting a discussion about the nature of proofs in this context.
  • A later reply provides a list of significant theorems in QFT, including references to specific propositions and textbooks related to these results.
  • Another participant mentions a new textbook on Mathematical Quantum Field Theory, highlighting its connection to the PF Insights series.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the existence of broken links and the need for clarity in the series. However, there is no consensus on the necessity of multiple links or the implications of rigor in proofs related to QFT.

Contextual Notes

Some links are not yet active as they point to future chapters in the series. The discussion includes references to specific theorems and literature, but the completeness and accuracy of these references remain unverified by all participants.

Urs Schreiber
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Greg Bernhardt submitted a new PF Insights post

A First Idea of Quantum Field Theory - 20 Part Series
quantumfieldtheory.png


Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.
 

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I see 66 links between 'This series' and 'Acknowledgement'. Wouldn't just one link have been enough ?

(By the way, an awful lot of them don't work ! )
 
BvU said:
an awful lot of them don't work !

Those links not activated yet are pointing to articles that appear further down in the series. They will become active incrementally as the series progresses.

BvU said:
Wouldn't just one link have been enough ?

Here I am not sure what you have in mind. But the links are just an offer, leading to further information, not a request to click on them. If you feel like not following any, that's fine.
 
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BvU said:
(By the way, an awful lot of them don't work ! )
The keywords go to ncatlab for more information. The chapter links aren't active yet because they haven't been released, but once they are they will be active. Hold tight, first chapter releases tomorrow! :)
 
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The links to expl. 8.16 and 10.16 (and perhaps others) do not work!
 
A. Neumaier said:
The links to expl. 8.16 and 10.16 (and perhaps others) do not work!

Thanks for the alert! Indeed, all PF-internal links had been broken since my last update. Not sure why this happened. But I have fixed it now. (Or so I think.)
 
Following public request, I have compiled a stand-alone list of references, see above under References.

But notice that detailed pointers to the literature are included in each chapter, alongside the text, attached to the relevant definitions or propositions.
 
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Hello,

I believe you once said there are results that are proved only by doing QFT rigorously. Could you please name some of such results and if possible point me to the explicit sources of those results? Thanks in advance.
 
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Duong said:
I believe you once said there are results that are proved only by doing QFT rigorously.

Just to nitpick, I'll say that every proof is necessarily rigorous, otherwise it is not a proof but a plausibility argument that may still fail upon examination.

Duong said:
Could you please name some of such results and if possible point me to the explicit sources of those results?

A list of theorems in QFT, with further pointers is at

Algebraic Quantum Field theory -- Contents --> Theorems

The main one that we proved in the series (Prop. 16.19) is the main theorem of perturbative renormalization. This implies the theorem that renormalization via UV-regularization exists (Prop. 16.23).

Then there is a list of famous structural theorems that are proven from the Haag-Kastler axioms (which we derived in Prop. 15.30). The Reeh-Schlieder theorem (recently picked up by Witten, see section 2 of arXiv:1803.04993), the Osterwalder-Schrader theorem ("Wick rotation exists"), the PCT theorem and, last not least, the spin-statistics theorem. The classical reference here is this textbook:
 
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Michael Duetsch's textbook on Mathematical Quantum Field Theory is finally out:

nLab entry, publisher page .

It refers to PF Insights, notably for the proof of renormalization via counterterms (theorem 3.4.9 in the book, referring to PF Insights, Chapter 16)
 
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