Measurement in Quantum Field Theory

Understand

The topic of measurement in relativistic quantum field theory is addressed in this article.

• Some of the long standing problems of this subject are highlighted, including the incompatibility of an instantaneous ``collapse of the wavefunction'' with relativity of simultaneity, and the difficulty of maintaining causality in the rules for measurement highlighted by ``impossible measurement'' scenarios.
• Thereafter, the issue is considered from the perspective of mathematical physics.
• To this end, quantum field theory is described in a model-independent, operator algebraic setting, on generic Lorentzian spacetime manifolds.