Quantum fields describe fundamental forces from "summary" of The Quantum Theory of Fields by Steven Weinberg,Weinberg S
Quantum fields are the basic ingredients of the quantum theory of fields. They are used to describe the fundamental forces of nature. In this framework, particles are identified with localized excitations of quantum fields. The electromagnetic field, for example, is associated with photons, while the electron field gives rise to electrons. In quantum field theory, interactions between particles are described by the exchange of other particles. For example, the electromagnetic force between two electrons is mediated by the exchange of photons. The quantum theory of fields allows us to understand the behavior of particles at both high energies and short distances. At these scales, the effects of quantum mechanics become more pronounced, and classical theories are no longer sufficient. The use of quantum fields provides a consistent framework for incorporating quantum mechanics into the theory of fundamental forces. The notion of a field is a powerful one in physics, as it allows us to describe the behavior of particles in a way that is independent of their specific positions in space and time. Instead of...
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