The conceptual basis of Quantum Field Theory

Abstract

Relativistic Quantum Field Theory is a mathematical scheme to describe the sub-atomic particles and forces. The basic starting point is that the axioms of Special Relativity on the one hand and those of Quantum Mechanics on the other, should be combined into one theory. The fundamental ingredients for this construction are reviewed. A remarkable feature is that the construction is not perfect; it will not allow us to compute all amplitudes with unlimited precision. Yet in practice this theory is more than accurate enough to cover the entire domain between the atomic scale and the Planck scale, some 20 orders of magnitude.