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The Modal Interpretation of Algebraic Quantum Field Theory

Rob Clifton
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Abstract

In a recent article, Dieks has proposed a way to implement the modal interpretation of (nonrelativistic) quantum theory in relativistic quantum field theory. We show that his proposal fails to yield a well-defined prescription for which observables in a local spacetime region possess definite values. On the other hand, we demonstrate that there is a well-defined and unique way of extending the modal interpretation to the local algebras of relativistic quantum field theory. This extension, however, faces a potentially serious difficulty in connection with ergodic states of a field.

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Rob Clifton. 2000-03-04. The Modal Interpretation of Algebraic Quantum Field Theory. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0375-9601(00)00364-9

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