Meantime, it remains unclear whether any experiment can ever be done by humans that might reveal some essential predictive inadequacy in either general relativity or quantum theory. Each, supreme in its own domain and haughtily ignoring the other, seems all but invulnerable.
Mathematicians like uniqueness theorems; they seek axioms so exquisitely coherent that they completely and perfectly characterize just one thing that they can then prove must exist. Some quantum field theorists share this passion, and strive to satisfy it (mostly, alas, in vain.)
-
-
The great thing about a mathematical uniqueness theorem is that it promises to remove all historical contingency. Things must be a certain way, not in obedience to tradition, but because otherwise one or more of these utterly transparent foundational principles would be violated.
-
The yearning for this sort of understanding of quantum field theory drove Arthur Wightman and his various colleagues and disciples to seek axioms for the discipline that might simultaneously free it of all dependence on historical accident and expose its absolute essentials.
- 2 more replies
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.