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QFT² (quite fun things about QFT) is a reading group on the physics, mathematics, and philosophy of QFT, started by myself and James Read in February 2025. In Michaelmas/Autumn/Fall 2026, we'll be meeting during term on a Monday from 16:00-17:00 UK time. The group is run in a hybrid format. Get in touch with me or James to be added to our mailing list and for the link to join online.

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A provisional schedule of topics and readings for the current term is below (subject to change). There is some expectation to do some of the reading in advance, but the aim of this group is to develop (collective) understanding - so if you just want to focus on one item/sub-topic or get stuck on something, that's totally fine and you'll probably be helping the rest of us out! Everyone is welcome to suggest topics, readings, or to present if they would like - get in touch with me or James.​​​ A provisional schedule of topics for future terms is at the bottom of this page.

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Michaelmas/Autumn/Fall 2026 - Duncan & friends

 

This term, we'll be alternating between some selections from Duncan's book (The Conceptual Foundations of QFT - doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199573264.001.0001), along with some related philosophy of physics papers.

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Week 1 (12th Oct.) - Locality, causality, etc.

Duncan - Ch. 6​​​

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Week 2 (19th Oct.) - Locality, causality, etc. (cont.)​​

Alexander S. Blum and James D. Fraser (2025). "Perturbative causality." Synthese 206: 70. doi:10.1007/s11229-025-05099-z.

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Optional:

Francisco Calderón (2024). "The Causal Axioms of Algebraic Quantum Field Theory: A Diagnostic." Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 104: pp. 98-108. doi:10.1016/j.shpsa.2024.01.006.

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Week 3 (26th Oct.) - Perturbative expansions

Duncan - Chs. 10.1, 11.2-11.3​​

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Week 4 (2nd Nov.) - Perturbative expansions (cont.)

James D. Fraser and Kasia Rejzner (2024). "Perturbative expansions and the foundations of quantum field theory." The European Physical Journal H 49: 10. doi:10.1140/epjh/s13129-024-00075-6.

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Week 5 (9th Nov.) - Haag's theorem

Duncan - Ch. 10.5


Week 6 (16th Nov.) - Haag's theorem (cont.)

Michael E. Miller (2018). "Haag's theorem, apparent inconsistency, and the empirical adequacy of quantum field theory." The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 69 (3): pp. 801-820. doi:10.1093/bjps/axw029.

Chris Mitsch, Marian Gilton and David Freeborn (2023). "How Haag-tied is QFT, really?" Philosophy of Physics 2 (1): 8. doi:10.31389/pop.26.

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Week 7 (23rd Nov.) - Renormalisation, etc.

Duncan - Chs. 16-17.

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Week 8 (30th Nov.) - Renormalisation, etc. (cont.)

Sébastien Rivat (2019). "Renormalization scrutinized." Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 68: pp. 23-39. doi:10.1016/j.shpsb.2019.04.006.

 

Optional:

James D. Fraser (2021). "The twin origins of renormalization group concepts." Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 89: pp. 114-128. doi:10.1016/j.shpsa.2021.08.002.

Sébastien Rivat (2021). "Drawing scales apart: The origins of Wilson's conception of effective field theories." Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 90: pp. 321-338. doi:10.1016/j.shpsa.2021.10.013.​

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Topic schedule for future terms

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  • Energy and energy conditions in QFT

  • Seiberg-Witten theory

  • BV/BFV formalism

  • Measurement in QFT

  • Spectrum conditions and the duality condition in QFT

  • Locality and non-locality in QFT

  • Causality in QFT​

© 2025 by Eleanor March

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