Basic question on QFT and the standard model

[jnorman]

The standard model comprises a particle model of reality, implying that every observable is either a particle of matter or a force carrying particle. QFT seems to imply that particles are merely manifestations of underlying fields - ie, particles are "ripples" in the field.

if QFT is the accepted model of quantum physics, why doesn't the standard model somehow reflect that? ie, why isn't the standard model based around a list of fields, rather than particles?

 

[xepma]

The standard model is based on a list of quantum fields. Electrons, quarks and neutrinos correspond to Dirac /Majorana fields, photons and other force carriers correspond to gauge fields, the Higgs boson corresponds to a scalar field.