Sean Carroll Explains Quantum Field Theory

The Michael Shermer Show # 432

Sean Carroll cuts to the bare mathematical essence of our most profound theories, explaining every step in a uniquely accessible way.

Quantum field theory is how modern physics describes nature at its most profound level. Starting with the basics of quantum mechanics itself, Sean Carroll explains measurement and entanglement before explaining how the world is really made of fields.

You will finally understand why matter is solid, why there is antimatter, where the sizes of atoms come from, and why the predictions of quantum field theory are so spectacularly successful.

Fundamental ideas like spin, symmetry, Feynman diagrams, and the Higgs mechanism are explained for real, not just through amusing stories. Beyond Newton, beyond Einstein, and all the intuitive notions that have guided homo sapiens for millennia.

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[dohpamne]

As a big Sean Carroll fan but a first time listener of this podcast, Michael Shermer was a great interviewer.

[psuengineer]

Sean is an unbelievable science communicator. As a Baltimore native, I am proud Sean teaches here at JHU.

[quantumkath]

Michael Shermer is one of the best, most honest, active listener interviewers out there.

[eksffa]

35:00 abstract the vision of the world
36:18 duality
38:00 atom model cartoon and mental pictures
39:20 pauli-X
41:15 QF & other fields
42:35 la place explained sun gv field
43:30 unification of classic and q physics (macro and micro)
46:40 rubber sheet analogy
48:00 atoms smashing are changes in fields
49:15 what’s below atoms and particles (fiends and energy - set of fields)
51:00 when things gets unnatural in standard model
52:15 strings theory
53:15 Dark M & E
53:38 cosmological constant
55:17 neutrinos not DM
55:40 Higgs&Boson
57:45 nothing can’t come trom nothing?
58:40 we don’t know about universe beginning
59:39 causes and effects (causality)
1:01:35 nothing and then
1:02:30 God

1:03:20 free will and determinism
1:05:35 compatibilism
1:06:40 self reference
1:07:20 you are not god or LPD
1:09:20 individual humans
1:11:45 Einstein and time condolences letter (block universe)
1:14:00 end, 3rd book and so on

16:50 how do you know

[jmtaviation]

Thank you. Excellent interview with Sean. You asked everything I’ve wanted him to explain

[karagi]

Great discussion. Carroll has a way of cutting through the misconceptions that have clouded our ability to correctly understand physics.

[jdbrinton]

I love the really hard questions and Dr. Carroll's ability to eloquently answer everything.

[imperfekt]

Excellent. I've read and listened to Sean Carroll for a long time, and I thought this was one of the best general exploration of his ideas on physics and philosophy, so good job interviewing by Michael Shermer.

[matthewkolb]

Excellent interview. I love Sean Carroll and this was a pleasure to listen to.

[robotaholic]

This is the highest compliment I can bestow. I love how you eviscerated fine tuning. First you steel manned their argument. Then you utterly destroyed it so well. Yours is still the best refutation of fine tuning I've ever heard.

[bobbyrne]

Great questions, phenomenal answers. What a gift!

[FigmentHF]

Sean is my anchor to reality, not insofar as his reality is my reality, but he’s great at being hard nosed in a way that is actually conducive to progress. It’s fun to have provocative and exciting ideas, but if they are scientific ideas, they need to be rigorous and plausible. He’s also great with regards to guru’s, conspiracy theories and divisive politics, always giving advice about how to think about a problem so as I can solve it myself, rather than explicitly telling me what to believe.

He’s careful and serious and fun, and is taking the foundations of quantum mechanics, as well as the interplay of philosophy and science, very seriously. Sean is so far from “shut up and calculate”, in his approach to the big questions.

Thank you!

[GeezerBoy]

I may be wrong on this but isn't there total determinism at the molecular level, namely all molecules acting and interacting? And if not what are the demonstrable, empirical, proven exceptions we can cite?

[Jgill]

sean carroll is so eloquent with explaining these complex ideas that makes me want to learn even more🥰😀

[SONALI-ws]

Thank you, Michael Shermer. Really interesting.

[Booogieman]

Thanks for the good questions! Sean was very eloquent in his speech as always. P.S. One of his best interviews, actually. I learned a lot from it.

[howardoligas]

Sean is at his best here. Thank you for the interview.

[ABARANOWSKISKI]

Wait, two of my favourite skeptics in conversation with each other?! I must watch this. Okay, I did watch it. Really good conversation! Michael Shermer & Sean Carroll are actually two of the people on my list of people I'd like to meet in person while I'm alive. I recently met Richard Dawkins, and that was a huge moment for me. If I ever get a chance to go to an event, where either Michael Shermer, or Sean Carroll are speakers, I will certainly be there. There are so many wonderful people out there in the world, and to meet them in person is surely an honour. Great video!

[nsmurty]

Question for Dr. Carroll is that the concept of solid like behavior of atoms, i.e. the electron clouds does not fit with the Rutherford gold foil experimental data. Alpha particles being larger and positively charged were thought to act like bullets going through the gold atoms unless they happen to encounter a nucleus in which case they get scattered. The apparent solidness of say a table can stem from electron repulsion at close range between atoms of one surface against another leading to the feeling of rigidness or solidity. In this case, could we view the electron as localized but executing a Brownian motion around the nucleus, perhaps due to the action of virtual particles around it?

[mabraham]

Sean Carroll is an amazing teacher. Micheal Shermer is a great facilitator. 😊😊😊