Relativistic quantum field theory

JUN 01, 1966

Quantum field theory unites Bohr’s complementarity principle and Einstein’s relativity. Mathematical and physical consequences of the union are discussed.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3048300

Julian Schwinger

THE RELATIVISTIC QUANTUM theory of fields was born some 35 years ago through the paternal efforts of Dirac, Heisenberg, Pauli and others. It was a somewhat retarded youngster, however, and first reached adolescence 17 years later, an event which we are gathered here to celebrate. But it is the subsequent development and more mature phase of the subject that I wish to discuss briefly today.

References

1. J. Schwinger, Phys. Rev. 82, 914 (1951), https://doi.org/PHRVAO
J. Schwinger, 91, 713 (1953); https://doi.org/PHRVAO , Phys. Rev.
J. Schwinger, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. 46, 883 (1960).https://doi.org/PNASA6
2. R. Feynman. Rev. Mod. Phys. 20, 36 (1948), https://doi.org/RMPHAT
R. Feynman j and A. Hibbs, Quantum Mechanics and Path Integrals, McGraw‐Hill, N.Y., 1965.
3. In the first two papers cited in Ref. I, I have assumed space‐reflective invariance and shown the equivalence between the spin‐statistics relation and the invariance of the action principle under combined time reflection and complex conjugation. It was later remarked by Pauli that the separate hypothesis of space‐reflection invariance was unnecessary. W. Pauli, Niels Bohr and the Development of Physics, McGraw‐Hill, N.Y., 1955.
4. J. Schwinger, Phys. Rev. 127, 324 (1962).https://doi.org/PHRVAO
5. J. Schwinger, Phys. Rev. 130, 406 (1963).https://doi.org/PHRVAO
6. J. Schwinger, Phys. Rev. 130, 800 (1963).https://doi.org/PHRVAO
7. J. Schwinger, Phys. Rev. 130, 1253 (1963).https://doi.org/PHRVAO
8. J. Schwinger, Phys. Rev. 132, 1317 (1963).https://doi.org/PHRVAO
9. J. Schwinger, Phys. Rev. 125, 397 (1962) https://doi.org/PHRVAO
J. Schwinger, 128, 2425 (1962).https://doi.org/PHRVAO , Phys. Rev.
10. J. Schwinger, Phys. Rev. 135, B816 (1964); https://doi.org/PHRVAO
J. Schwinger, 136, B1821 (1964).https://doi.org/PHRVAO , Phys. Rev.
11. J. Schwinger, Second Coral Gables Conference on Symmetry Principles at High Energy, W. H. Freeman & Co., San Francisco, 1965;
Phys. Rev. 140, B158 (1965).https://doi.org/PHRVAO
12. The general theory is described by P. Martin and J. Schwinger, Phys. Rev. 115, 1342 (1959).https://doi.org/PHRVAO

More about the Authors

Julian Schwinger. Harvard University.