dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaThe self-energy of the electron: a quintessential problem in the development of QED
| Authors | Jo Bovy |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0608108 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0608108 |
Abstract
The development of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) is sketched from its earliest beginnings until the formulations of 1949, using the example of the divergent self-energy of the electron as a quintessential problem of the 1930's-40's. The lack of progress towards solving this problem led researchers to believe that after the conceptual revolution of quantum mechanics a new conceptual change was needed. It took a war and a new generation of algorithmically inclined physicists to pursue the conventional route of regularization and renormalization that led to the solution in 1947-1949. Some remarks on contemporary high energy physics are made.
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"abstract": "The development of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) is sketched from its\nearliest beginnings until the formulations of 1949, using the example of the\ndivergent self-energy of the electron as a quintessential problem of the\n1930\u0027s-40\u0027s. The lack of progress towards solving this problem led researchers\nto believe that after the conceptual revolution of quantum mechanics a new\nconceptual change was needed. It took a war and a new generation of\nalgorithmically inclined physicists to pursue the conventional route of\nregularization and renormalization that led to the solution in 1947-1949. Some\nremarks on contemporary high energy physics are made.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0608108",
"authors": [
"Jo Bovy"
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"physics.hist-ph"
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"title": "The self-energy of the electron: a quintessential problem in the development of QED",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0608108"
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