Effective Field Theory, Past and Future

TL;DR

This paper reviews the development and applications of effective field theories, discusses their role in the Standard Model and gravity, and highlights recent findings on the asymptotic safety of gravitational effective field theory.

Contribution

It provides a historical perspective on effective field theories and discusses recent advances suggesting asymptotic safety in quantum gravity.

Findings

Effective field theories underpin the Standard Model and gravity.

Recent calculations indicate asymptotic safety in gravitational effective field theory.

The paper connects early development with current research in effective theories.

Abstract

This is a written version of the opening talk at the 6th International Workshop on Chiral Dynamics, at the University of Bern, Switzerland, July 6, 2009, to be published in the proceedings of the Workshop. In it, I reminisce about the early development of effective field theories of the strong interactions, comment briefly on some other applications of effective field theories, and then take up the idea that the Standard Model and General Relativity are the leading terms in an effective field theory. Finally, I cite recent calculations that suggest that the effective field theory of gravitation and matter is asymptotically safe.