The Quantum Fields
The quantum fields that comprise quantum field theory are the Higgs, Gluon, Electroweak, Quark, and Lepton fields. A sixth, not-yet-quantized field is the mother of all. It is the metric or gravitational field with its hypothesized avatar of general covariance the graviton. Two are force fields and can be better intuited as fluids. These are the electroweak field and it has four fluid quanta – the photon, W+, W-, and Z boson.
The strong force field harbors eight types of sticky fluid-like gluons that bind the heart of atoms together. Two matter fields – the quark and electron fields. Each of these fields have six quanta within them corresponding to three generations with two in each generation. The 2nd and 3rd generations are unstable and will decay into stable 1st generation quanta. All quantum fields represent differing properties of space that have physical effects. Each differing property manifests as different phenomena or dynamical action.
Check out –
Rodney Brooke’s book on QFT that shares the “no particle” view entitled Fields of Colour: http://amzn.to/2qwgDpC
I’ve finished reading Tales of the Quantum by Art Hobson. I highly recommend it. I had to order it from Amazon as my local Chapters wasn’t carrying it despite it being released only a few months ago. Splurge for your library and get the hardcover: http://amzn.to/2qB8tz7
Some other excellent books on the topic: TheLightness of Being by Frank Wilczek: http://amzn.to/2oG2d4K
A beautiful Question by Wilczek: http://amzn.to/2oFSStL
Wilczek on the gravitational transformations and the metric fluid: “If we didn’t understand the effect of the water, we’d be tempted to think that the images must convey different scenes. But if we know about water, and allow for its effect, we can count many more possible images as valid representations of our scene. We might distribute the water in different ways, for example, to mimic the effect of a fun-house mirror. We could even put our water in motion so that the images might also change with time. In short: by imagining a space-filling fluid, and allowing for its possible effects, we are able to consider a wide variety of transformed images as representations of the same scene, viewed through different states of the fluid.”
(His emphasis, taken from A Beautiful Question)
Check out my video on the quanta or “units of energy” that can be found fluctuating in these fields.