- #1
NathanaelNolk
- 85
- 14
So I have been reading '2D Topological Quantum Field Theory and Frobenius Algebras' by Joachim Kock recently and I couldn't help but wonder, how is this related to physics? I'm currently in the first chapter and he defined a TQFT as a monoidal functor. Now this seems somewhat abstract (which I appreciate, since I'm a math major) but I was left wondering, how does this tie back to physics?
I understand that topological quantum field theory is now a 'mathematical' theory but I've discussed about QFT with physicists and it looks nothing like what I've been learning. I want to become a mathematical physicist and I was wondering if someone could give me a book/paper to get some insight in the more physical side of things? I don't know much physics beyond lagrangian mechanics and basic quantum mechanics so maybe this is out of reach. A simple explanation would go a long way too!
Thanks.
I understand that topological quantum field theory is now a 'mathematical' theory but I've discussed about QFT with physicists and it looks nothing like what I've been learning. I want to become a mathematical physicist and I was wondering if someone could give me a book/paper to get some insight in the more physical side of things? I don't know much physics beyond lagrangian mechanics and basic quantum mechanics so maybe this is out of reach. A simple explanation would go a long way too!
Thanks.