Matter's slip towards an amorphous state progressed significantly in the 1920's when Paul Dirac drew from relativity theory and quantum mechanics to formulate rules applicable to the quantization of energy. These rules theorized the existence of anti-particles, such as the positron, which were "observed" just a couple years later.
The quantum field theory that Dirac helped advance deals with situations where particles change in a dance of creation and annihilation. Radioactive decay is an example of the former. The redistribution occurring in particle collision experiments is an example of the later.
"According to the [field theory of matter] a material particle such as an electron is merely a small domain of the electrical field within which the field strength assumes enormously high values, indicating that a comparatively high field energy is concentrated in a very small space. Such an energy knot, which by no means is clearly delineated against the remaining field, propagates through empty space like a water wave across the surface of a lake; there is no such thing as one and the same substance of which the electron consists at all times."
Hermann Weyl, Philosophy of Mathematics and Natural Science, p.171
With the concept of the quantum field, mass is simply a distinguishable structure of energy in an otherwise normal continuum spread throughout space.
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2 comments:
Great to see the you cover sientific subjects - okay Im into poetry so my understanding is limited so forgive me the can not comment as I should
No forgiveness necessary. I appreciate your visit. And I enjoy your poetry.
I see our mystical paths crossed on Paul's "Original Faith" blog, where my mystical side steps forth.
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