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Single Idea 11931

[filed under theme 27. Natural Reality / B. Modern Physics / 2. Electrodynamics / b. Fields ]

Full Idea

We know that all energy fields are discontinuous below the distance measured by Planck's constant h. The physical world ultimately consists of discrete objects.

Gist of Idea

Energy fields are discontinuous at the very small

Source

George Molnar (Powers [1998], 2.2)

Book Ref

Molnar,George: 'Powers: a study in metaphysics', ed/tr. Mumford,Stephen [OUP 2003], p.53

A Reaction

This is where quantum theory clashes with relativity, since the latter holds space to be a continuum. I'm not sure about Molnar's use of the word 'objects' here.

The 14 ideas with the same theme [foundational background containing particles]:

15314 Faraday's single field of variable forces introduces a criterion of Unity into what is ultimate [Faraday, by Harré/Madden]
17548 Maxwell introduced real fields, which transferred forces from point to point [Heisenberg]
18202 The concept of a field gradually replaced the substances in explaining relations between charges [Einstein/Infeld]
20639 Quantum fields contain continual rapid creation and disappearance [Close]
11931 Energy fields are discontinuous at the very small [Molnar]
18223 In theories of fields, space-time points or regions are causal agents [Field,H]
21201 A 'field' is just a region to which points can be assigned in space and time [Martin,BR]
21212 The Higgs field, unlike others, has a nozero value in a state without particles [Martin,BR]
21731 Fields can be 'scalar', or 'vector', or 'tensor', or 'spinor' [Baggott]
21730 A 'field' is a property with a magnitude, distributed across all of space and time [Baggott]
21161 In the standard model all the fundamental force fields merge at extremely high energies [New Sci.]
20463 There are about fifteen particles fields, plus a few force fields [Rovelli]
20464 The world consists of quantum fields, with elementary events happening in spacetime [Rovelli]
20462 Because it is quantised, a field behaves like a set of packets of energy [Rovelli]