The quantum field theory (QFT) is one of branches of the Standard Model. According to QFT, quantum fields are the primary entities and particles are the excitations of these fields, coming in discrete lumps with no inner structures and with properties assigned by declaration. Such view is in conflict with the observed vacuum energy density, 140 orders of magnitudes less than required by the QFT. In addition, such view is challenged by Aphysical Quantum Mechanics (AQM), a deeper quantum theory. According to AQM, the fundamental understanding of quantum reality is expanded by the addition of two fundamental categories, aphysical and elementary consciousness of elementary particles. Based on AQM and as an example, the total ontology of the intrinsic (fundamental) electron is presented with its inner structure of perfect geometry consisting of the physical charged c-ring and aphysical cylinder, and with its properties such as self-mass, spin, magneto-electrostatic field configuration and magnetic moment. The position parameter in the inner structure demonstrates that there are no two identical intrinsic electrons in the Universe thus placing a question mark over the QFT principle of indistinguishability.
The quantum field theory (QFT) is one of branches of the Standard Model. According to QFT, quantum fields are the primary entities and particles are the excitations of these fields, coming in discrete lumps with no inner structures and with properties assigned by declaration. Such view is in conflict with the observed vacuum energy density, 140 orders of magnitudes less than required by the QFT. In addition, such view is challenged by Aphysical Quantum Mechanics (AQM), a deeper quantum theory. According to AQM, the fundamental understanding of quantum reality is expanded by the addition of two fundamental categories, aphysical and elementary consciousness of elementary particles. Based on AQM and as an example, the total ontology of the intrinsic (fundamental) electron is presented with its inner structure of perfect geometry consisting of the physical charged c-ring and aphysical cylinder, and with its properties such as self-mass, spin, magneto-electrostatic field configuration and magnetic moment. The position parameter in the inner structure demonstrates that there are no two identical intrinsic electrons in the Universe thus placing a question mark over the QFT principle of indistinguishability.
Aphysical quantum mechanics (AQM) is a deeper quantum theory. It introduces the position parameter. All quantum enigmas are explained. Quantum optics and particle physics undergo dramatic founda-tional transformation. Quantum laws are not universal. Quantum reality is subset of objective reality. Understanding of quantum reality is expanded by adding two more fundamental categories: aphysical category and elementary consciousness of elementary particles. The gap between consciousness of non-living matter and living matter is closed. All elementary particles have inner structures of perfect geometry, well-defined position or trajectory. A self-entangled elementary particle can be in several locations at the same time, physically always in one and aphysi-cally in all others. Fundamental understanding of quantum computing is possible only on the basis of AQM. AQM opens the floodgates of new physics. The gap between quantum physics and classical physics is closed.
According to classical physics, particles are basic constituents of the physical world. Quantum theory is much less friendly to particles; in particular, relativistic quantum field theory (RQFT) creates serious obstacles for the idea that particles are fundamental. Apparently, when moving from the domain of RQFT to that of classical mechanics (CM), particles have to emerge at some stage. It is standard to assume that this emergence has been completed at the level of quantum mechanics, halfway between RQFT and CM, even though particles of the same kind in many-particle quantum mechanics have the curious feature of being ‘entities without identity’. Against this ‘Received View’ about the nature of quantum particles we outline and defend an Alternative View (AV), in which the emergent character of particles is emphasized. According to this AV, the step to a particle theory has not yet been made in quantum mechanics: conditions have still to be satisfied in order to make the particle concept applicable. If these conditions are met, the quantum particles that emerge are distinguishable individuals possessing physically defined identities, in stark contrast to what the Received View asserts. We will compare and contrast the two Views, both from a physical and a logical/conceptual point of view. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Identity, individuality and indistinguishability in physics and mathematics’.
One of the foundational challenges in both Quantum Field Theory and the philosophy of physics lies in the traditional binary classification of entities as either real or unreal. The classical view posits that material entities are real, while mental constructs or theoretical entities are unreal. However, quantum phenomena such as virtual particles challenge this simplistic dichotomy. These unobservable entities, by influencing measurable phenomena, raise profound questions about the nature and modes of existence. To address this, we propose a four-level ontological hierarchy that spans from the quantum vacuum and the virtual level to the quantum level and phenomenal reality, providing a coherent continuum from potentiality to actualization. This framework not only clarifies the interpretation of quantum theory but also offers a unified perspective linking the unobservable with the observable. In QFT, virtual particles play a crucial role in mediating forces and in correcting the measurable properties of real particles. They arise within the mathematical structure of Feynman diagrams and, despite being unobservable, produce real, measurable effects such as the Lamb shift and the Casimir effect. Philosophically, this raises deep ontological questions: if unobservable entities affect measurable phenomena, can they truly be dismissed as unreal? Conversely, if they are real, what mode of existence do they possess? The traditional dichotomy of real versus unreal is thus insufficient for interpreting the ontological implications of quantum processes. To overcome these limitations, we propose a four-level ontological hierarchy.
At the primary level of reality as described by quantum field theory, a fundamental particle like an electron represents a stable, discrete, propagating excited state of its underlying quantum field. QFT also tells us that the lowest vacuum state as well as the excited states of such a field is always very active with spontaneous, unpredictable quantum fluctuations. Also an underlying quantum field is known to be indestructible and immutable possessing the same value in each element of spacetime comprising the universe. These characteristics of the primary quantum fields together with the fact that the quantum fluctuations can be cogently substantiated to be quantum coherent throughout the universe provide a possible ontology of the quantum theory. In this picture, the wave function of a quantum particle represents the reality of the inherent quantum fluctuations at the core of the universe and endows the particle its counter intuitive quantum behavior.
This report provides a brief review of recently developed extended framework for fundamental physics, designated as Quantum Field Mechanics and including causally complete and intrinsically unified theory of explicitly emerging elementary particles, their inherent properties, quantum and relativistic behaviour, interactions and their results. Essential progress with respect to usual theory is attained due to the unreduced, nonperturbative analysis of arbitrary interaction process revealing a qualitatively new phenomenon of dynamic multivaluedness of interaction results and their dynamically entangled structure giving rise to universally defined dynamic complexity (physics/9806002) and absent in usual, always perturbative and dynamically single-valued models with the zero value of unreduced complexity (including substitutes used for "complexity", "chaoticity", "self-organisation", etc.). It is shown how the observed world structure, starting from elementary particles and their interactions, dynamically emerges from the unreduced interaction between two initially homogeneous, physically real protofields (quant-ph/9902015, quant-ph/9902016). In that way one avoids arbitrary imposition of abstract entities and unprovable postulates or "principles", let alone "mysteries", of conventional theory, which now obtain unified, consistent and realistic explanation in terms of unreduced dynamic complexity. We complete the description of fundamental world structure emergence and properties by an outline of experimental implications and resulting causally substantiated change of research strategy.
Abstract Quantum field theory (QFT) is the union of quantum mechanics and Einstein’ s special theory of relativity. QFT is the most fundamental physical theory and provides the answers to questions about the basic structure of the physical world. However, the way QFT describes the world is so different from the way our senses present it to us that it requires an overhaul of philosophic categories and arguments. How can we know the microscopic world without a satisfactory measurement theory? What are the general conditions of the world that make possible such knowledge? What are the presuppositions of physical theories? Dr.Auyang argues that the current relational substantial debate on space-time is inadequate and the observer-observed distinction in quantum interpretations illusory because they are hampered by philosophical constructs too narrow to accommodate the complicated structures of modern philosophical theories. Modern physical theories have incorporated many presuppositions of empirical knowledge, and consequently the theories inform us about the general nature of the world and out relation to it, in addition to information about elementary particles. The conceptual structure of QFT is extracted and articulated in commonsense terms, and used to answer many longstanding philosophical questions.