renormalisoidut

Renormalization is a technique used in theoretical physics to make sense of infinities that arise in quantum field theory. It involves redefining the parameters of a theory in a way that makes the results finite and independent of the choice of regularization scheme. This process is crucial for calculating physical observables, such as scattering amplitudes, which would otherwise be plagued by divergences.

The concept of renormalization was first introduced by Hans Kramers and Werner Heisenberg in 1925, but it was not until the 1940s and 1950s that it was fully developed by physicists like Richard Feynman, Julian Schwinger, and Shin'ichiro Tomonaga. They showed that infinities in quantum electrodynamics (QED) could be absorbed into the definition of the electron's charge and mass, making the theory finite and in agreement with experimental data.

Renormalization has since been applied to other quantum field theories, including the Standard Model of particle physics. However, it has also led to some of the most challenging problems in theoretical physics, such as the hierarchy problem and the strong CP problem. Despite these difficulties, renormalization remains a fundamental tool in the study of quantum field theories and has been instrumental in our understanding of the fundamental forces of nature.