Abstract
In 1930, there were two quantum theories for elementary particles like electrons: the non-relativistic one due to Schrödinger and Heisenberg and the relativistic one devised by Dirac. Both describe how particles can also behave as waves. On the other hand, there was no quantum theory that had its origin in waves or fields; the electromagnetic field theory had remained classical until then.
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Notes
- 1.
P. Dirac, The quantum theory of the emission and absorption of radiation, Proc. R. Soc. London A 114, 243–265 (1927).
- 2.
W. Fock, Konfigurationsraum und zweite Quantelung (Configuration Space and Second Quantization), Zeitschrift für Physik 75, 622–647 (1932).
- 3.
N. David Mermin, What’s Wrong with this Pillow? Physics Today, April 1989, p. 9. This phrase is often also attributed to Paul Dirac and Richard Feynman.
- 4.
There is still a photon field whose excitations are photons. These also have wave characteristics, as expressed at the double slit. In a moment, we will discuss the difference between virtual and real photons.
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Jaeger, L. (2018). Quantum Field Theories: All Matter Dissolves. In: The Second Quantum Revolution. Copernicus, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98824-5_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98824-5_11
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