What is Renormalization?

TL;DR

This paper provides a non-technical overview of modern perspectives on renormalization in quantum field theories, highlighting its conceptual clarity and implications for fundamental interactions.

Contribution

It offers a simplified, updated interpretation of renormalization, moving away from the view of it as merely a mathematical fix, emphasizing its conceptual understanding.

Findings

Renormalization is now seen as a well-understood theoretical process.

Modern attitudes clarify the role of renormalization in quantum theories.

Implications for electromagnetic, strong, and weak interactions are discussed.

Abstract

"Preprint" of paper from 1989 that wasn't arxiv'ed at the time. Abstract: Our understanding of quantum field theories, and, in particular, of renomalization has changed radically in recent years; renormalization is no longer a deeply mysterious procedure for hiding embarrassing infinities. This talk is a non-technical presentation of modern attitudes towards renormalization, and their implications (both theoretical and experimental) for quantum theories of electromagnetic, strong, and weak interactions.