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arXiv:2110.02078physics.gen-ph

Something is wrong in the state of QED

Oliver Consa

Abstract

Quantum electrodynamics (QED) is considered the most accurate theory in the history of science. However, this precision is based on a single experimental value: the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron (g-factor). An examination of the history of QED reveals that this value was obtained in a very suspicious way. These suspicions include the case of Karplus & Kroll, who admitted to having lied in their presentation of the most relevant calculation in the history of QED. As we will demonstrate in this paper, the Karplus & Kroll affair was not an isolated case, but one in a long series of errors, suspicious coincidences, mathematical inconsistencies and renormalized infinities swept under the rug.

arXiv comments
16 pages, 9 figures, 6 tables. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2010.10345
Journal reference
DOI
Subjects
physics.gen-phGeneral Physics

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Linked by 3 identifiable commenters in 3 comments across 3 threads, from Aug 2022 to Feb 2023. Found in 2 HN submissions from May 2022 to Feb 2023. Open submission discussions.

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Discussed in comments3 threads

    • Well if it’s about QED I’m always drawn to the paper : “There’s something rotten about the state of QED” by Oliver Consa (https://arxiv.org/pdf/2110.02078.pdf). Since I’m in CS, not physics could anyone let me know if the paper above is making stuff up. If not, then it does…

      sashank_1509View on HNParent context

    • “As one of the inventors of QED, I remember that we thought of QED in 1949 as a temporary and jerry-built structure, with mathematical inconsistencies and renormalized infinities swept under the rug. We did not expect it to last more than 10 years before some more solidly built…

      bloggieView on HNParent context

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