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Fields and particles


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This is a rather theoretical question, but is it possible in physics to have a description of reality which does not consist of particles but only fields. Or are fields always defined in such a way that particles must exist?

The problem I think is that at the very fundamental level of physics, we have matter/particles defined in terms of spacetime, and spacetime defined in terms of matter/particles. You can not define one without the other.

To measure something in empty space is impossible, and likewise, to define particles without spacetime is also impossible.

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  • 3 years later...

From a QM point of view, particles are necessary, but not for many properties. Not necessarily for being points, but to count them, and as a nice way to say that whan the extension of a particle changes, some properties keep conserved, for instance the charge. Also, to avoid that a particle repels itself.

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