Learning

Introductory Videos

These videos describe the content of corresponding websites. They are intended to give a nontechnical introduction and an impressionistic overview.

YouTube Playlist

Online Course on Causal Fermion Systems

The online course originates from online lectures given at Universität Regensburg in the summer term 2021. It includes introductory videos, more specialized lectures, exercises and many links to books and articles.

Literature on Causal Fermion Systems

Introductory and survey articles

F. Finster, Causal fermion systems: Classical gravity and beyond, notes of invited talk given at the 16th Marcel Grossmann Meeting, July 2021
This article gives a review on the status of the theory of causal fermion systems with regard to the gravitational interaction.
F. Finster, M. Jokel, Causal fermion systems: An elementary introduction to physical ideas and mathematical concepts, in “Progress and Visions in Quantum Theory in View of Gravity,” Birkhäuser (2020) 63-92
This article gives an elementary introduction to the theory of causal fermion systems, with a focus on the underlying physical ideas and the conceptual and mathematical foundations.
F. Finster, Causal fermion systems: Discrete space-times, causation and finite propagation speed, J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 1275 (2019) 012009
These are notes of a talk for physicists. The focus is on discrete space-time structures. The linearized field equations and surface layer integrals are explained in this simpler discrete setting.
F. Finster, Causal fermion systems: A primer for Lorentzian geometers, J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 968 (2018) 012004
This article is addressed to Lorentzian geometers or readers familiar with general relativity. It is outlined how a causal fermion system can be constructed in curve space-time, and how it enodes the geometric structures.
F. Finster, J. Kleiner, Causal fermion systems as a candidate for a unified physical theory, J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 626 (2015) 012020
This article gives a non-technical introduction. It gives an outline of the continuum limit, and discusses the connections to quantum field theory and the foundations of quantum theory.
F. Finster, A. Grotz, D. Schiefeneder, Causal fermion systems: A quantum space-time emerging from an action principle, in “Quantum Field Theory and Gravity,” Birkhäuser (2012) 157-182
This is the article where causal fermion systems were first introduced.
F. Finster, A formulation of quantum field theory realizing a sea of interacting Dirac particles, Lett. Math. Phys. 97 (2011) 165-183
This article outlines the connection to quantum field theory and the Dirac sea picture.
F. Finster, From discrete space-time to Minkowski space: Basic mechanisms, methods and perspectives, in “Quantum Field Theory,” Birkhäuser (2009) 235-259
F. Finster, Fermion systems in discrete space-time, J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 67 (2007) 012048
The causal action is introduced for discrete space-times.
F. Finster, The principle of the fermionic projector: An approach for quantum gravity?, in “Quantum Gravity,” Birkhäuser (2006) 263-281
In this early paper, the connection to quantum gravity is discussed.

Books

F. Finster, S. Kindermann, J.-H. Treude, Causal Fermion Systems: An Introduction to Fundamental Structures, Methods and Applications, arXiv
This book is based on notes of lectures on causal variational principles given at the University of Regensburg in the spring terms 2017 and 2021 (with the former working title: “An Introductory Course to Causal Fermion Systems”). It is addressed to both physicists and mathematicians interested in the subject. Part 3 can be regarded as a mathematical toolbox which provides useful methods and techniques.
F. Finster, N. Kamran, Spinors on Singular Spaces and the Topology of Causal Fermion Systems, Mem. Amer. Math. Soc. 259 (2019), no. 1251, v+83 pp
This thin book introduces causal fermion systems from the perspective of topology and differential geometry. The guiding theme is to encode the topology and geometry in terms of linear operators on a Hilbert space. This is explained and illustrated in many simple examples. The causal action principle, however, is not covered.
F. Finster, The Continuum Limit of Causal Fermion Systems, Fundamental Theories of Physics 186, Springer, 2016
This is the only textbook on and at present the best reference to causal fermion systems. Chapter 1 is a general introduction. Chapter 2 provides the computational tools needed for analyzing the continuum limit. In Chapters 3-5 the continuum limit is worked out for Dirac systems of increasing complexity, giving all the interactions of the standard model plus classical gravity.
F. Finster, The Principle of the Fermionic Projector, AMS/IP Studies in Advanced Mathematics Series 35 (2006)
The “principle of the fermionic projector” was a major preliminary step towards developing causal fermion systems. It states the general mathematical structure of the causal action principle in the setting where wave functions are varied in a discrete space-time. Moreover, the causal action is stated for the first time, but ony as an example and without all the constraints. In the more recent foreword, the developments leading to causal fermion systems are outlined.

Videos on Causal Fermion Systems

International Spring School "Causal fermion systems," Regensburg, February 2018

See here for more details on the spring school.

Preliminary Lecture. Mathematical and physical preliminaries (lecturer: A. Platzer)
Lecture 1. Introduction to the theory and inherent structures (F. Finster)
Lecture 2. Correspondence to Minkowski space (F. Finster)
Lecture 3. The field equations in the jet formulation (J. Kleiner)
Lecture 4. Conserved surface layer integrals (J. Kleiner)
Lecture 5. Fermionic and bosonic jets in Minkowski space and surface layer integrals (F. Finster)
Lecture 6. Outline of the continuum limit (J. Kleiner)
Lecture 7. Correspondence to classical field equations (F. Finster)
Lecture 8. Existence theory for causal variational principles (J. Kleiner)
Lecture 9. Geometric structures (F. Finster)
Lecture 1o. Classical and quantum space-times (F. Finster)
Lecture 11. Correspondence to quantum field theory (F. Finster)

International Spring School "Causal fermion systems," Regensburg, February 2016

See here for more details on the spring school.

Preliminary Lecture 1. Physical preliminaries (lecturer: J. Kleiner)
Preliminary Lecture 2. Mathematical preliminaries (J.-H. Treude)
Lecture 1. Causal fermion systems: the abstract framework (F. Finster)
Lecture 2. Correspondence to Minkowski space I (F. Finster)
Lecture 3. Correspondence to Minkowski space I and overview of the analysis in the continuum limit (F. Finster)
Lecture 4. Causal perturbation expansion and light cone expansion (F. Finster)
Lecture 5. The continuum limit I (F. Finster)
Lecture 6. The Euler-Lagrange equations (F. Finster)
Lecture 7. The continuum limit II (F. Finster)
Lecture 8. Connection to the standard model (F. Finster)
Lecture 9. An introduction to spinors in curved space-time (F. Finster)
Lecture 1o. Connections to the Einstein equations and geometric structures of a causal fermion system (F. Finster)
Discussion. Exerpts from one discussion session (moderated by J. Kleiner)

Introductory Talks for Mathematicians in DFG Research Training Network, 2016

Public Talks and Discussions

Laws of Nature, Discussion series on Quantum Theory and Relativity, February 2022: YouTube, Slides
- “An introduction to causal fermion systems and the causal action principle”
- “The continuum limit of causal fermion systems and quantum states”
Diskussionsreihe “Was ist wirklich?”, Kausale Fermionsysteme: Eine neue vereinheitlichte Theorie entsteht, Universität Regensburg, February 2017 (in German)

Live Recordings of Talks at Conferences, Workshops and Seminars

Here are a few selected videos of talks given at conferences, workshops or seminars:

F. Finster, Causal fermions and octonions, Online Lecture Series “Octonions, Standard Model, and Unification”, organized and hosted by Tejinder Singh (IUCAA, Pune) and Michael Wright (ATRMSP, Oxford), May 2023 (Slides)
F. Finster, Quasi-local mass, scalar curvature and a positive mass theorem for causal variational principles, Workshop “Non-regular Spacetime Geometry,” Erwin-Schrödinger-Institut, Wien, March 2023 (Slides)
F. Finster, An introduction to causal fermion systems and the causal action principle, Workshop “Mathematical and Conceptual Aspects of Quantum Theory,” Banff International Research Station, Oaxaca, México, June 2022 (Slides)
F. Finster, Quantum states of causal fermion systems and collapse, Mathematical Physics Colloquium Regensburg-München (online via Zoom), February 2021 (Slides)
F. Finster, Causal fermion systems and the causal action principle, Mathematical Physics Colloquium at Universität Tübingen (online via Zoom), July 2020 (Slides)
F. Finster, A positive mass theorem for static causal fermion systems, Oberseminar “Geometric Analysis” at Universität Tübingen (online via Zoom), July 2020 (Slides)
F. Finster, Causal fermion systems from an information theoretic perspective, Workshop “Information theoretic foundations for physics,” Perimeter Institute, Waterloo, Canada, May 2015 (Slides)
F. Finster, Causal fermion systems as an approach to quantum theory, Conference “Quantum Mathematical Physics – A Bridge between Mathematics and Physics,” Regensburg, October 2014 (Slides)

Mathematics

Basics

Examples and Limiting Cases

Inherent Structures

Further Structures I

Analytic Structures

Further Structures II

Physics

Motivation in Examples

Elementary Structures

Phenomenology

Central Ideas of the Theory

Wishlists and Relation to Other Theories

Main Results and Ontology

FAQ

The Theory of Causal Fermion Systems

Contents

Introductory videos

Online course

Literature

Further videos