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Full Idea
The word 'field' is simply a shorthand way of saying that a physical property is assigned to the points of space and time in a region.
Gist of Idea
A 'field' is just a region to which points can be assigned in space and time
Source
Brian R. Martin (Particle Physics [2011], 01)
Book Ref
Martin, Brian R.: 'Particle Physics' [One World 2011], p.11
A Reaction
This is disappointing because I had begun to think that fields were foundational for modern ontology. Turns out they are operational abstractions (according to Martin). Note that a field extends over time.
Related Idea
Idea 21212 The Higgs field, unlike others, has a nozero value in a state without particles [Martin,BR]
| 21201 | A 'field' is just a region to which points can be assigned in space and time [Martin,BR] |
| 21202 | The strong force has a considerably greater range than the weak force [Martin,BR] |
| 21205 | Many physicists believe particles have further structure, if only we could see it [Martin,BR] |
| 21203 | Uncertainty allows very brief violations of energy conservation - even shorter with higher energies [Martin,BR] |
| 21204 | The standard model combines theories of strong interaction, and electromagnetic and weak interaction [Martin,BR] |
| 21200 | An 'element' is what cannot be decomposed by chemistry [Martin,BR] |
| 21208 | Eletrons don't literally 'spin', because they are point-like [Martin,BR] |
| 21207 | The Exclusion Principle says no two fermions occupy the same state, with the same numbers [Martin,BR] |
| 21206 | The properties of a particle are determined by its quantum numbers and its mass [Martin,BR] |
| 21210 | Virtual particles surround any charged particle [Martin,BR] |
| 21209 | Electron emit and reabsorb photons, which create and reabsorb virtual electrons and positrons [Martin,BR] |
| 21211 | If an expected reaction does not occur, that implies a conservation law [Martin,BR] |
| 21212 | The Higgs field, unlike others, has a nozero value in a state without particles [Martin,BR] |
| 21213 | String theory only has one free parameter (tension) - unlike the standard model with 19 [Martin,BR] |