The First Quantum Field Theory

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Anti-Matter and Quantum Field Theory

Quantum mechanics is perhaps the most unintuitive theory ever devised. And yet it’s also the most successful, in terms of sheer predictive power. Simply by following the math of quantum mechanics, incredible discoveries have been made. Its wild success tells us that the mathematical description provided by quantum mechanics reflects deep truths about reality. And by far the most successful, most predictive formulation of quantum mechanics is quantum field theory. It is our best description we have of the fundamental workings of reality. And the first part of quantum field theory that was derived – quantum electrodynamics – is the most precise, most accurate of all.

Written and Hosted by Matt O’Dowd
Produced by Rusty Ward
Graphics by Kurt Ross

Comments answer by Matt:
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[EugeneKhutoryansky]

Very nice job on the animation of the array of oscillating springs eight minutes into the video.

[davidt]

This is one of the only shows on youtube I consistently watch every new episode for. I have a BS in physics but none of my professors ever really "explained" these concepts beyond just how the math works.

[kfrol]

LOVE the way you phrase some things: the math of QM "reflects" deep truths about the universe; QFT "describes" particles as vibrations in fields. You don't lead the audience to think that's truly (whatever that means) how the universe is, but that it's the best description we have. Masterful treading of an exceptionally fine line. Good stuff!

[math.physics]

As an engineer who has always been passionate about math and physics, I was intrigued by modern physics, despite neither relativity nor quantum mechanics were part of any course syllabus at my university. I studied these subjects on the side and found them really inspiring, I would go as far as to say that they gave me a novel perspective on life itself. That prompted me to create some online courses on Udemy on Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Field Theory, special and General Relativity. It’s not my job of course, but I love talking about these topics while using some mathematics for “intuition”.

[kevinocta]

My FAVORITE youtube channel of ALL TIME!!! I love PBS Space Time! I will not have had my fill of this channel until literally EVERYTHING in the universe is explained one video at a time!

[charksey]

The introductory description of quantum mechanics is by far and away the best I've ever heard for any science principle. People often say things like "this is fact", "this is how the universe works", "the universe is math". This phrasing - "the mathematical description provided by quantum mechanics reflects deep truths about reality" - is perfect. Maybe the universe is math, maybe it's more complex, and this is the best approximation we have so far. We can use it to predict, explore, and refine. Love it.

[yamansanghavi]

Now I feel that PBS Space Time is back to life. Thank you so much for this quantum series. I love PBS Space Time

[elgabacho]

I don't understand 90% of what he is saying but I'm still watching. I'm hoping that I'll eventually understand it if I watch it enough times. :/

[bialek.online]

Another week of fine shower thoughts ahead of me. These recent Space Time episodes are hypno interesting. Good work!

[sokaries]

Every episode seems like a christmas gift, love this series

[bgdavenport]

I am four years late to this discussion and totally enamoured by it. Thank you!

[xRawlins]

I wait in anticipation of the weekly Space Time video like it was a new episode of Game of Thrones.

Such an awesome channel.

[djschultz]

I had to read Nueromancer by William GIbson 7 times before i knew what it was about. Now I consider that casual light reading. Even though i still do not completely understand it I get enjoyment and new ideas, rather than stress, out of reading it again. Keep reading! it eventually works!

[ThomasGutierrez]

Loved it! One note on the visualization in the video: the amplitudes of the quantum fields are not quantized in lockstep with the frequencies like a vibrating string in the graphic. A more careful analogy is akin to the single quantum simple harmonic oscillator like a mass on a spring, which has quantized energies (thus frequencies) but the spatial location of the oscillator is probabilistically fuzzy as described by its wave function. A quantum field is similar: the energy modes of the whole field are quantized (the particles), but the spatial shape of the field at each point is going to be probabilistic and thus quantum mechanically fuzzy (in rather non-intuitive ways as it turns out). However, normally it is the exchange of the energy quanta that are of interest, so the bizarre spatial shapes aren't (usually) of much use.

[kedwardsTWO]

How the heck have I only just discovered this channel now? Love your work!

[shanefoster]

"to do that we are gunna need another genious."

pls be Feynman, pls be Feynman.

"we're gunna need Richard Feynman."

YES!

"... and we're gunna need another episode of spacetime."

NO!

[searchiemusic]

3:38 as an audio engineer this sentence just completely rewired my brain i think

[TheRestartPoint]

I'm amazed at how well this is explained, usually Quantum theory baffles me very quickly but I was able to appreciate this whole video, thanks!

[josephlytle]

I love physics! I recently paid $75 to chat with a physics PhD for 30 min. I just have all these questions lol. I'd love to chat with this fellow sometime. I maybe could even help inspire a few interesting episodes haha. Thanks for all the great content!

[xmansemail]

I think a lot of people would be interested to see what goes into making these fantastic videos. Filming, set, animations, script writers, bloopers. Thanks for the awesome content! :-)