Book contents
- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories
- Reviews of the first edition
- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface to the Revised Edition
- Preface to the First Edition
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The Rise of Classical Field Theory
- Part I The Geometrical Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- Part II The Quantum Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- Part III The Gauge Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- 9 Gauge-Theoretical Origins and Tentative Steps
- 10 The Formation of the Conceptual Foundations of Gauge Field Theories
- 11 The Gauge Field Programme
- 12 Ontological Synthesis and Scientific Realism
- Appendices
- References
- Name Index
- Subject Index
11 - The Gauge Field Programme
from Part III - The Gauge Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 October 2019
- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories
- Reviews of the first edition
- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface to the Revised Edition
- Preface to the First Edition
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The Rise of Classical Field Theory
- Part I The Geometrical Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- Part II The Quantum Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- Part III The Gauge Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- 9 Gauge-Theoretical Origins and Tentative Steps
- 10 The Formation of the Conceptual Foundations of Gauge Field Theories
- 11 The Gauge Field Programme
- 12 Ontological Synthesis and Scientific Realism
- Appendices
- References
- Name Index
- Subject Index
Summary
The Utrecht proof of the renormalizability of gauge-invariant massive vector meson theories in 1971 (Section 10.3), as observed by influential contemporary physicists, “would change our way of thinking on gauge field theory in a most profound way” (Lee, 1972) and “caused a great stir, made unification into a central research theme” (Pais, 1986). Confidence quickly built up within the particle physics community that a system of quantum fields whose dynamics is fixed by the gauge principle was a self-consistent and powerful conceptual framework for describing fundamental interactions in a unified way.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories , pp. 290 - 336Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2019