Discrete Or Continuous? - The Quest for Fundamental Length in Modern Physics

Novel conceptual analysis, fresh historical perspectives, and concrete physical examples illuminate one of the most thought-provoking topics in physics.

List of contents

1. Introduction; 2. Arguments from mathematics; 3. Arguments from philosophy; 4. Electrodynamics, QED, and early QFT; 5. Quantum gravity: prehistory; 6. Einstein on the notion of length; 7. Quantum gravity: current approaches; 8. The proof is in the pudding; 9. Coda.

About the author

Amit Hagar is an Associate Professor in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, where he specializes in the foundations of modern physics.

Summary

Combining novel conceptual analysis, fresh historical perspectives, and concrete physical examples, this unique book tells the story of the search for discrete length in modern physics, presenting philosophical theses in an accessible format that avoids complex mathematics, and which sheds light on one of the most thought-provoking topics in physics.

Product details

• Authors: Amit Hagar, Amit (Indiana University Hagar
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.05.2014
• EAN: 9781107062801
• ISBN: 978-1-107-06280-1
• No. of pages: 280
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Physics, astronomy > Theoretical physics; Science: general issues, SCIENCE / Physics / General, Philosophy of Science, History of Science, Physics, Quantum physics (quantum mechanics and quantum field theory), Relativity physics, Mathematics & science