P. A. M. Dirac and the formation of the basic ideas of quantum field theory

This paper celebrates a double anniversary. In 1987, P. A. M. Dirac (1902--1984) would have been 85 years old and in addition it was 60 years ago that Dirac's paper on ``The quantum theory of emission and absorption of radiation'' appeared. That paper laid the foundation for modern quantum field theory. The appearance and evolution of the basic concepts and representations of quantum field theory are presented here more from a logical than a historical aspect. Special note is taken of the important role played by Dirac in this process.

PACS: 11.10.Gh, 11.15.−q (all)
DOI: 10.1070/PU1987v030n09ABEH002962
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1987/9/b/
Citation: Medvedev B V, Shirkov D V "P. A. M. Dirac and the formation of the basic ideas of quantum field theory" Sov. Phys. Usp. 30 791–815 (1987)

BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks

Оригинал: Медведев Б В, Ширков Д В «П. А. М. Дирак и становление основных представлений квантовой теории поля» УФН 153 59–104 (1987); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0153.198709b.0059

P.A.M. Dirac is author of Physics-Uspekhi

References (12) Cited by (2) Similar articles (15) ↓

Ya.A. Smorodinskii “P. A. M. Dirac (8 August 1902-20 October 1984)” Sov. Phys. Usp. 29 281–285 (1986)
V.Ya. Frenkel’ “Professor Dirac and Soviet physicists” Sov. Phys. Usp. 30 816–822 (1987)
Ya.A. Smorodinskii “Some episodes” Sov. Phys. Usp. 30 823–825 (1987)
E.L. Feinberg “Igor’ Evgen’evich Tamm” Phys. Usp. 38 773–789 (1995)
L.B. Okun “V A Fock and gauge symmetry” Phys. Usp. 53 835–837 (2010)
V.A. Fock “On the invariant form of the wave and motion equations for a charged point mass” Phys. Usp. 53 839–841 (2010)
P. Higgs “Prehistory of the Higgs boson” Phys. Usp. 58 (10) (2015)
E.Z. Meilikhov “Two classic experiments in superconductivity” Sov. Phys. Usp. 31 459–461 (1988)
I.M. Frank “A conceptual history of the Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation” Sov. Phys. Usp. 27 385–395 (1984)
L.N. Kryzhanovskii “A history of the invention of and research on the coherer” Sov. Phys. Usp. 35 (4) 334–338 (1992)
M.V. Vol’kenshtein “Complementarity, physics, and biology” Sov. Phys. Usp. 31 140–150 (1988)
V.I. Kogan “The discovery of the Planck constant: ’roentgenoscopy’ of the scientific situation (1900). Missed opportunities in the choice of the Second Step (on the centenary of the First Step of quantum theory)” Phys. Usp. 43 1253–1259 (2000)
V.P. Vizgin “On the discovery of the gravitational field equations by Einstein and Hilbert: new materials” Phys. Usp. 44 1283–1298 (2001)
V.I. Sanyuk, A.D. Sukhanov “Dirac in 20th century physics: a centenary assessment” Phys. Usp. 46 937–956 (2003)
D.E. Burlankov “Gravity and absolute space. The works of Niels Bjern (1865-1909)” Phys. Usp. 47 833–844 (2004)

The list is formed automatically.