Can someone explain to me what renormalization is?

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Renormalization refers to mathematical techniques used to eliminate infinities and obtain finite results in quantum mechanics. General relativity does not require renormalization, as it operates independently of the quantum framework. However, when attempting to unify quantum mechanics with gravity, renormalization becomes necessary but often fails to yield finite results. Most theories that attempt this unification, except possibly string theory, struggle with producing consistent outcomes. The challenges in applying renormalization to quantum gravity highlight fundamental issues in merging these two domains of physics.
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Can someone explain to me what renormalization is? And why General Relativity isn't renormalizable?
 
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KrisOhn said:
Can someone explain to me what renormalization is? And why General Relativity isn't renormalizable?

'Renormalization' is a catch-all term used to describe mathematical tricks that are used to get finite results by canceling infinities and whatnot.

General relativity does not need 'renormalization', quantum mechanics does.

When you extend quantum mechanics to include gravity (general relativity) the final theory must be re-normalized as a consequence of it's mathematical formulation. With some possible theories (formulations of quantum mechanics including gravity) renormalization tricks will succeed in producing a finite answer (like the electron has X much magnetic moment etc.) but with all of the theories we have tried so far (with the possibly exception of string theory, but they have other problems such as choosing a vacuum) renormalization fails to produce any finite results.

The reasons that renormalization fails to work when you combine quantum mechanics and gravity is just because.

(or something like that)
 

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