Philip Goyal
As a theoretical physicist, I am primarily concerned with open foundational questions & challenges in physics and related fields. For many years, I have been engaged in the quantum reconstruction programme that aims to systematically derive the mathematical formalism of quantum theory from physically transparent principles, inspired by an informational perspective on physical reality. Recently, I have turned to the challenge of interpreting the principles used in its derivation, which has led to the proposal that identical quantum particles manifest a new kind of complementarity—a complementarity of persistence and nonpersistence. I have also recently developed a reconstruction of classical mechanics from symmetry principles which, amongst other things, illuminates the parallel between nonrelativistic and relativistic mechanics.
I currently work as an Associate Professor at the University at Albany (SUNY). Previously I worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, and as a research fellow at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge.
Recent Publications
Persistence and Reidentification in Systems of Identical Quantum Particles: Towards a Post-Atomistic Conception of Matter Preprint (2023)
The Role of Reconstruction in the Elucidation of Quantum Theory In *"Phenomenology and QBism: New Approaches to Quantum Mechanics", eds. P. Berghofer, H. A. Wiltsche (2023)
Derivation of Classical Mechanics via Conservation and Relativity in an Energetic Framework Foundations of Physics 50 1426—1479 (2020)
Persistence and nonpersistence as complementary models of identical quantum particles New Journal of Physics 21 (2019) 063031
Selected Talks
The Nature of Identical Quantum Particles: Metaphysical Insights from the Quantum Reconstruction Program APA Montreal, Society for Metaphysics of Science (SMS) session (January 2023)
Reconstruction of Quantum Theory and its Interpretative Implications Phenomenological Approaches to Physics, Linkoping, Sweden, 42 minutes + 9 minutes Q&A (9 June 2022)
Persistence and nonpersistence as complementary models of identical quantum particles "Phenomenological appoaches to physics: Quantum Mechanics—paradigm or ontology?" Workshop (Sept 2019)