Quantum Field Theory: The Only Realistic Theory of the Quantum World

T.M. Samols

Noel Swanson

According to spacetime state realism (SSR), the fundamental ontology of a quantum mechanical world consists of a state-valued field evolving in four-dimensional spacetime. One chief advantage it claims over rival wave-function realist views is its natural compatibility with relativistic quantum field theory (QFT). I argue that the original density operator formulation of SSR cannot be extended to QFTs where the local observables form type III von Neumann algebras. Instead, I propose a new formulation of SSR in terms of a presheaf of local state spaces dual to the net of local observables studied by algebraic QFT. 1. Introduction 2. Spacetime State Realism in Quantum Field Theory 2.1. Equivalence thesis 3. Entanglement and the Type III Property 3.1. No-Go Lemma 1 3.2. No-Go Lemma 2 4. State Space Axioms for Quantum Field Theory 4.1. Revised equivalence thesis 5. Discussion

Eric Laenen

Giuliano Preparata

Contents: The Fads and Fallacies of Quantum Mechanics Kinematics: The Descriptive Framework of Physical Reality Dynamics: The Laws of Evolution of Physical Reality Quantum Field Theory: The Only Realistic Theory of the Quantum World Final Considerations.

Detlef D uuml rr, Sheldon Goldstein, Roderich Tumulka +1 more

We develop a theory based on Bohmian mechanics in which particle world lines can begin and end. Such a theory provides a realist description of creation and annihilation events and thus a further step towards a 'beable-based' formulation of quantum field theory, as opposed to the usual 'observable-based' formulation which is plagued by the conceptual difficulties—such as the measurement problem—of quantum mechanics.