Volume 26: Pages 372-380, 2013
Words and formulas in quantum field theory: Disentangling and reassembling the basic concepts for teaching
Eugenio Bertozzi1,a), Elisa Ercolessi2, and Olivia Levrini1
1Department of Physics, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
2Department of Physics, University of Bologna and INFN, Via Irnerio 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
We address some problem related to teaching quantum field theory at the university level. After a discussion of the pros and cons of the canonical quantization approach, we present an alternative
teaching proposal. The novelty of this approach rests on the idea of using a multilevel structure, where the levels of phenomenology, formalism and interpretation are related but distinguishable. In this context, the quantization of the electromagnetic field, which is taken as a paradigmatic case in the standard approach, is addressed as a special case and studied only in the last step.
Nous traiterons des problèmes liés à l'enseignement de la théorie quantique des champs au niveau universitaire. Après avoir évalué les pour et les contre de la méthode de quantification canonique, nous proposerons une autre méthode d'enseignement. Le caractère novateur de cette approche réside dans l'utilisation d'une structure multiniveau, dans laquelle les niveaux de la phénoménologie, du formalisme et de l'interprétation sont liés mais distincts. La quantification du champ magnétique, paradigmatique dans la méthode standard, est traitée ici comme un cas particulier et étudiée uniquement en dernier lieu.
Keywords: Physics Education Research, University Teaching, Quantum Field Theory, Canonical Quantization, Alternative Approach, Field Equations, General Theory of Field and Particles
Received: January 17, 2013; Accepted: June 3, 2013; Published Online: July 10, 2013
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