Two Ways of Thinking About Quantum Field Theory

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There are two ways to conceptualize quantum field theory: one approach involves starting with a classical field, quantizing it, and observing the emergence of particles; another perspective begins with particles and various states in Hilbert space to describe different particle configurations, eventually leading to the reinvention of quantum field theory. This reveals that the relationship between fields and particles is bidirectional, allowing for the creation and destruction of different particle numbers within the theory.

Welcome to the June 2024 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questions themselves are good -- and sometimes group them together if they are about a similar topic. Enjoy!

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Blog post with show notes, questions, and transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/06/03/ama-jun-2024/

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