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Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories 2nd Revised edition [Kõva köide]

(Boston University)
  • Formaat: Hardback, 458 pages, kõrgus x laius x paksus: 252x178x26 mm, kaal: 1050 g, Worked examples or Exercises
  • Ilmumisaeg: 03-Oct-2019
  • Kirjastus: Cambridge University Press
  • ISBN-10: 1108476074
  • ISBN-13: 9781108476072
Teised raamatud teemal:
  • Formaat: Hardback, 458 pages, kõrgus x laius x paksus: 252x178x26 mm, kaal: 1050 g, Worked examples or Exercises
  • Ilmumisaeg: 03-Oct-2019
  • Kirjastus: Cambridge University Press
  • ISBN-10: 1108476074
  • ISBN-13: 9781108476072
Teised raamatud teemal:
This new edition of Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories explores the conceptual foundations and historical roots of fundamental field theories. It also uncovers the underlying issues, logic and dynamics in fundamental physics. In response to new advances in the field over the past twenty years, the sections on gauge theory and quantum field theory have been thoroughly revised and elaborated. The chapter on ontological synthesis and scientific realism has also been reconsidered, now suggesting a new approach that goes beyond structuralism and historicism. Providing an integrated picture of the physical world, it is a valuable resource for theoretical physicists and philosophers of science with an interest in the development of twentieth century mathematical physics. It also provides professional historians and sociologists of science with a basis for further historical, cultural and sociological analysis of the theories discussed.

This new edition of Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories explores the conceptual foundations and historical roots of fundamental field theories, and uncovers their underlying issues, logic and dynamics. It includes revised and elaborated sections on gauge theory, quantum field theory, ontological synthesis and scientific realism.

Muu info

An overview of the conceptual and historical foundations of fundamental field theories, including their underlying issues, logic and dynamics.
Preface to the Revised Edition page xi
Preface to the First Edition xiii
1 Introduction
1(20)
1.1 Science
1(3)
1.2 Metaphysics
4(2)
1.3 Causality
6(2)
1.4 Ontology
8(4)
1.5 History and the History of Science
12(1)
1.6 An Outline of the Main Story
13(8)
2 The Rise of Classical Field Theory
21(18)
2.1 Physical Actions in a Mechanical Framework
21(2)
2.2 The Continuous Medium
23(3)
2.3 The Mechanical Ether Field Theory
26(8)
2.4 The Electromagnetic Field Theory
34(5)
Part I The Geometrical Programme for Fundamental Interactions
39(68)
3 Einstein's Route to the Gravitational Field
41(15)
3.1 Guiding Ideas
42(4)
3.2 The Special Theory of Relativity (STR)
46(4)
3.3 The Geometrical Interpretation of STR
50(2)
3.4 The Introduction of Gravitational Fields: The Principle of Equivalence
52(4)
4 The General Theory of Relativity
56(22)
4.1 The Field and Geometry
57(2)
4.2 The Field and Spacetime: General Covariance
59(4)
4.3 Matter versus Spacetime and the Field: Mach's Principle
63(7)
4.4 The Consistency of GTR: The Genesis of Relativistic Cosmology
70(8)
5 The Geometrical Programme
78(29)
5.1 Einstein's Views of Spacetime and Geometry
78(8)
5.2 The Geometrical Programme: Strong and Weak Versions
86(3)
5.3 Further Developments
89(8)
5.4 Topological Investigations: Singularities, Horizons, and Black Holes
97(10)
Part II The Quantum Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
107(128)
6 The Rise of Quantum Theory
109(16)
6.1 The Quantization of Motion
109(2)
6.2 The Quantization of Radiation
111(5)
6.3 The Birth of Matrix Mechanics
116(2)
6.4 The Duality of Matter, Individuality, and Quantum Statistics
118(2)
6.5 The Birth of Wave Mechanics
120(1)
6.6 Uncertainty and Complementarity
121(4)
7 The Formation of the Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Field Theory
125(59)
7.1 The Tortuous Route to the Quantum Field
125(25)
7.2 Quantum Fields and the Ontological Foundations of QFT
150(5)
7.3 Interaction
155(7)
7.4 Renormalization
162(22)
8 The Quantum Field Programme
184(51)
8.1 Essential Features
184(2)
8.2 Failed Attempts
186(1)
8.3 Various Attitudes toward Renormalizability
187(3)
8.4 The Axiomatic Approach
190(2)
8.5 The S-Matrix Theory
192(8)
8.6 The PCAC Hypothesis and Current Algebra
200(15)
8.7 Anomalies
215(7)
8.8 The Renormalization Group
222(5)
8.9 Swings of the Pendulum
227(8)
Part III The Gauge Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
235(134)
9 Gauge-Theoretical Origins and Tentative Steps
237(9)
9.1 Gauge Invariance and the Gauge Principle
237(2)
9.2 Speculations on Extending the Gauge Principle from the Abelian Phase Symmetry to Nonabelian Cases
239(2)
9.3 Early Attempts: 1957-1967
241(5)
10 The Formation of the Conceptual Foundations of Gauge Field Theories
246(44)
10.1 Mechanisms for Short-Range Interactions: I. The Englert-Brout-Higgs Mechanism
246(11)
10.2 Mechanisms for Short-Range Interactions: II. Asymptotic Freedom and Quark Confinement
257(5)
10.3 Renormalizability
262(8)
10.4 Global Features
270(4)
10.5 Open Questions
274(16)
11 The Gauge Field Programme
290(47)
11.1 The Rise of the Standard Model
291(18)
11.2 Further Extensions
309(4)
11.3 Ontological Synthesis: Quantum Gravity without a Fixed Background Spacetime
313(4)
11.4 GFP as a Synthesis of GP and QFP
317(6)
11.5 Stagnation and a New Direction: Effective Field Theories
323(14)
12 Ontological Synthesis and Scientific Realism
337(32)
12.1 Two Views on How Science Develops
337(5)
12.2 Frameworks Opposed to the Incommensurability Thesis
342(8)
12.3 Scientific Realism: Beyond Structuralism and Historicism
350(4)
12.4 Conceptual Revolutions via Ontological Synthesis: Epistemic and Ontic Emergence
354(7)
12.5 Conceptual Revolutions and Scientific Realism
361(3)
12.6 Conceptual Revolutions and Scientific Rationality
364(5)
Appendices 369(1)
Appendix 1 The Rise of Intrinsic, Local, and Dynamic Geometry 369(5)
Appendix 2 Homotopy Classes and Homotopy Groups 374(2)
References 376(46)
Name Index 422(6)
Subject Index 428
Tian Cao is Professor of Philosophy at Boston University. He is a Research Fellow at Trinity College, University of Cambridge; Senior Smithsonian Institution Fellow; Visiting Fellow at All Souls College, University of Oxford; and Neugebauer Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University. He is author of From Current Algebra to Quantum Chromodynamics (Ccambridge, 2010); and editor of Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Field Theory (Cambridge, 1999). His research interests include the philosophy and history of science, epistemology, metaphysics, social and political philosophy, with special interest in philosophical issues related to modernity and postmodernity.