The Genesis of Feynman Diagrams: 26 (Archimedes)

Book Details

• Author: Adrian Wüthrich

• Publisher: Springer

• Language: English

• Edition: 2011 ed.

• ISBN: 9789400733657

• Pages: 210

• Cover: Paperback

• Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches

About the Book

Feynman Diagrams and the History of Quantum Electrodynamics offers an in-depth exploration of the development and impact of Feynman diagrams, a critical advancement in quantum physics. Adrian Wüthrich meticulously reconstructs the genesis of these diagrams, illustrating how they were driven by the quest to solve fundamental issues related to the infinities that plagued quantum and classical theories of electrodynamics.

The book contrasts Feynman’s revolutionary approach with earlier graphical representations of physical phenomena, showing how his diagrams significantly transformed the conceptualization and modeling of quantum electrodynamics (QED). Wüthrich traces Feynman’s early struggles with the Dirac equation in unpublished manuscripts to Freeman Dyson’s pivotal publications, which provided the field-theoretic context for Feynman’s diagrams.

Not only did Feynman and Dyson create a powerful computational tool, but they also introduced a new conceptual framework for addressing and removing the previously uninterpretable infinities in QED. By identifying and justifying the removal of these infinities, Feynman diagrams marked a key turning point in the field of quantum physics.

This book is an essential read for anyone interested in the history of quantum mechanics, the development of theoretical physics, and the revolutionary work of Richard Feynman and Freeman Dyson in reshaping our understanding of the quantum world.