From Current Algebra to Quantum Chromodynamics: A Case for Structural Realism

Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 9
Preface......Page 11
1 Introduction......Page 13
Notes......Page 24
Meson theory......Page 26
Non-abelian gauge theory......Page 27
Deep conceptual difficulties of QFT......Page 29
The S-matrix theory......Page 30
Composite models......Page 34
Symmetries......Page 36
The eightfold way......Page 38
Weak interactions......Page 39
CVC and form factors......Page 40
PCAC......Page 42
2.2 Gell-Mann's proposal of current algebra......Page 45
2.3 Current algebra and quark model......Page 50
Empirical roots......Page 53
Local field theory as its matrix......Page 54
Inherent limitations......Page 55
Hints of deep reality......Page 56
Notes......Page 57
3.1 The Fubini-Furlan method and the Adler-Weisberger sum rule......Page 61
3.2 Adler's local current algebra sum rules......Page 65
3.3 Bjorken's inequality for electroproduction......Page 70
3.4 Remarks......Page 72
Inputs-outputs......Page 73
Notes......Page 74
4
Saturation and closure......Page 76
4.1 Saturation: Adler's empirical analysis......Page 77
4.2 Saturation: Bjorken's constructive approach......Page 78
"General truths"......Page 80
Historical analogy......Page 83
Two models for saturation......Page 85
A. The harmonic oscillator model.......Page 87
B. The diffractive production model......Page 88
4.3 Closure: Chew's questioning......Page 89
Exchanges at the Solvay Conference......Page 90
Chews paper: "Closure, locality and the bootstrap"......Page 92
Dominant region for saturation......Page 96
Atomicity and structure......Page 97
5 Scaling......Page 100
5.1 Hypothesis......Page 101
Context......Page 103
Plan......Page 106
Results......Page 109
5.3 Interpretation......Page 110
Historical origin......Page 114
Precocious scaling......Page 115
Achievements......Page 116
Notes......Page 117
6 Theorizations of scaling......Page 118
6.1 The parton model......Page 119
Anomalies......Page 124
Scaling violation......Page 126
Broken scale invariance: early history......Page 127
Operator product expansions......Page 129
Scaling law and renormalization group equation......Page 132
6.3 Light-cone current algebra......Page 135
From infinite momentum to light cone......Page 136
Assumptions and formula......Page 137
Light-cone singularity and scaling......Page 138
Puzzlements over method and underlying model......Page 140
Parton model calculations......Page 143
How formal? Why formal?......Page 144
Notes......Page 170
7 The advent of QCD......Page 145
The origin of parastatistics......Page 146
The Han-Nambu scheme......Page 147
Color for current quarks......Page 148
Connection between constituent and current quarks......Page 152
The color singlet assumption......Page 153
7.2 The rise of non-abelian gauge theory......Page 154
The mass problem: evasion and solution......Page 155
Han-Nambu's double SU(3) symmetry scheme......Page 156
Quantization and renormalization......Page 157
Gell-Mann's plenary talk......Page 159
The joint paper by Fritzsch and Gell-Mann......Page 161
Level......Page 165
Entities......Page 166
Gell-Mann's intellectual leadership......Page 167
An outstanding problem......Page 168
Historical role of current algebra......Page 169
8 Early justifications and explorations......Page 172
Symanzik and `t Hooft......Page 173
Dimensional transmutation......Page 175
Politzer and Gross-Wilczek......Page 177
Questions answered and unanswered......Page 180
8.2 "Advantages of the color octet gluon picture"......Page 182
8.3 Early signs of confinement......Page 187
Schwinger's insights......Page 188
String......Page 189
Lattice......Page 191
Charm phenomenology......Page 195
Scaling violation......Page 198
Observing gluon through three-jet events......Page 200
Instantons......Page 203
The structure of the true QCD vacuum......Page 206
Strong CP violation......Page 207
Asymptotic freedom and QCD......Page 208
QCD and the quark model......Page 209
Partons, bootstrap, and QCD......Page 210
Evidence and theory-acceptance......Page 211
Notes......Page 212
9 Structural realism and the construction of QCD......Page 214
9.1 Fundamental entities in theoretical sciences......Page 215
The origin of ontological commitments......Page 217
Further roles of ontological commitment......Page 219
Various possibilities......Page 221
Entities, properties, and structures......Page 223
Ontological foundations of a fundamental theory......Page 227
9.2 Structural approach to fundamental entities......Page 228
The Ramsey sentence version......Page 229
The ontic version......Page 232
The constructive version......Page 236
Structures and structural knowledge of entities......Page 237
From structural knowledge to entities......Page 238
Holistic constitution......Page 239
New type of natural kinds......Page 240
Referential continuity and ontological synthesis......Page 242
9.3 The construction of QCD......Page 244
Accessibility......Page 249
Reality......Page 250
Objectivity and historicity......Page 251
Notes......Page 252
10 Structural realism and the construction of the CA-QCD narrative......Page 254
Objectivity: from Kant to Kuhn......Page 256
The structuralist conception of objectivity and progress......Page 260
Scientific enquiries......Page 262
Historical enquiry......Page 265
History of science......Page 269
What is intended in the CA-QCD narrative?......Page 270
Historically effective contingent activities......Page 273
When was the theoretical discovery made?......Page 276
Science and culture (physics and metaphysics)......Page 277
10.4 In defense of conceptual history of science......Page 280
Notes......Page 285
References......Page 287
Author Index......Page 308
Subject Index......Page 312