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Transcript of String Theory package
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Sydney Sun
Kappa
3/13/08
Content Part 1: Belief in SS Theory and why
String theory attempts to unite the large world (galaxies, universe, stars) and the
small world (subatomic particles, atoms, quarks). Subatomic particles are particles that
are smaller than an atom. Atoms are the smallest particles that have an elemental
influence and have an electron cloud that surrounds a dense nucleus. A quark is a particle
that forms protons and neutrons. Quarks come in 6 different "flavors" or types; up,
down, strange, charm, top, and bottom (Greene) String theory is the belief that the world
is comprised of tiny strings that oscillate in different ways which create atoms and quarks
which in turn promotes the different functions and actions of small world and the large
world and everything in between. String theory has been able to explain both the large
and small world as separate entities but now it faces the challenge of connecting the two
(Szabo). Recently, String Theory has become very popular, with a show on KQED "The
elegant Universe" and a pop culture icon Brian Greene, who wrote the book "The elegant
Universe". But, this theory had a lot of bumps on the road to getting to its current
popularity. It wasnt until John Schwarz and Michael Green created and discovered the
anomaly cancellation calculationwhich basically stated that in order for The
Superstring Theory to make sense, there had to be certain conditions of dimensions, and
there would be 496 of them and it implied the graviton which, is a subatomic particle that
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describes gravity-- in 1984 that Superstring Theory became popular and validated as a
legitimate Theory. This calculation was also how John Schwarz became known as one of
the fathers of the Superstring theory. For a long time he was one of the only physicists
who believed in and went along with the Superstring Theory. But, he did not care that he
was ostracized from the rest of the Physics community, he believed in what he was doing,
"I was immediately convinced this was worth devoting my life to...It's been my life work
ever since." (New York times, John Schwarz). The culture of being involved with the
Super String Theory Movement and School is devotion. When people get into the Super
string theory they devote the rest of their lives to it because it offers them something that
maybe nothing else can. What string theory has to offer is infinity. " String theory is not
like anything else ever discovered. It is an incredible panoply of ideas about math and
physics, so vast, so rich you can say anything about it."(New York Times, Edward
Witten). The soul of what the theory and its community are all about. It offers the
chance that it can be anything or everything. The everything is what is offered to
people like John Schwarz and the people who just believe.
Super String Theory, "For the first 25 years, the thinking has been that Super
String theory is so difficult to see experimentally that you have to figure it out by its own
mathematical consistency and beauty. This quote calls for innovation. It gives nod to
exactly how much the early believers had to step out of the box in order to have done
what they did. A quick description of what the beginning was like and what string theory
is, "Just like an ordinary guitar string, a fundamental string can vibrate in different
modes. And it is these different modes of vibration of the string that are understood in
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string theory as being the different elementary particles."(New York Times, Whitten).
This quote was one of the founding ideas as to how Super String theory got started. This
quote is a great example of the blueprint of Super String theory because it depicts String
theory clearly and concisely. Now, that String theory has come so far, the future is what
String Theory has to face, because string theory is so vast and is everything. This
everything concept came about when Einstein decided that he didnt like quantum
mechanics. From there in 1921the Kaluza-Klein theory was developed. The theory
states that Electromagnetism can come from gravity in a unified theory if there are 4
dimensions instead of 3. The fourth dimension is curled into a tiny circle, so that a
particle moving a short distance along that axis would return to where it began. The
distance the particle can travel before reaching its initial position is the size of a
dimension. This extra dimension is a compact by having space-time compacted with
dimensions is called compactification.
This picture is looking at the world plane, which
is the flat side of a string. This picture shows that the circumference is a dimension that is
compacted. That string is also a dimension. Because string theory claims that is it is correct
both the universe and quarks are made of the same matter. So, traveling once around the
entire string is equal to traveling across a dimension.
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This is another way of viewing the first picture. But, instead of viewing the
compactification in relation to a string, this one focuses on the
compression. When the Compression occurs, the string becomes a lot denser,
but it still contains a dimension, just jam-packed in a small package, which is
the string.
The combination of the first two pictures creates this one. Like the first picture, this oneshows the flat side of the string and like the second one it also shows the way particles move
around the string, which is the way a particle moves around a dimension. The black circles
are way that a particle can move once, twice, or not at all.
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String Theory was officially born in 1970. How it happened was that three
particle theorists independently realized that the dual theories developed in 1968 to
describe the span of particles can also describe quantum mechanics and oscillating
strings, those oscillating strings become string theory. Since then other topics and
theories were developed based on string theory like Supersymmetry in 1971, Gravitons
1974, Supergravity 1976, and Supersting theory in 1980, which is string theory, and
Supersymmetry combined (refer to math section). Superstring Theory is based on the
introduction of a world sheet super-symmetry that relates the space-time
coordinates. This came about when physicists decided that all the strings are all
symmetric and that every string in theory has a "unique resonance" (Szabo). Different
resonances determine different forces. The tension in a string is on the order of the Plank
Force (1044 Newtons). The graviton (the gravity particle) for example, is predicted to be
a string with a resonance of zero. Another insight of this theory is that no differences can
be detected between strings that wrap around dimensions smaller than themselves and
ones that move along larger dimensions
String Theory has come a long way, passing through different times in history and
the hands and minds of different Physicists. Each transition added a new idea to String
Theory. It started with Einstein's dislike quantum mechanics and discovering the theory
of relativity, to the Kaluza-Klein theorem of compactification of 1921, The Schwarz-
Green mechanism of 1980, and the pop culture icon Brian Green. But, with all of these
believers and track record or discoveries, there are those that don't believe. But, that does
not slow down the progression of string theory, this summer, the Large Hadron Collider
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will be turned on and if it's discoveries coincide with physicists like Schwarz, than string
theory will be that much closer to becoming the grand unifying theory; bringing together
quantum mechanics and the theory of relativity.
Sydney Sun
Kappa
3/15/08
Content Part 2: Criticisms of String Theory
Even thought String Theory has come a long way, there are those who doubt
String Theory. Some even believe that String Theory shouldnt even be studied or given
any more recognition because the theory has no proof that it exists. The theory also has a
lot of inconsistencies. Because of the lack of proof and consistency and the incessant
devotion, other physicists dub that devotion as fanaticism. Where the actual furthering of
physics takes a back seat to a personal fulfillment. So, some believe that String Theory
isnt going to lead the Physics community anywhere, "We bemoan the fact that Einstein
spent the last 30 years of his life on the fruitless quest, but we think it's fine if a thousand
theorists spend 30 years of their prime on the same quest"(New York Times, Krauss).
This is where the line between devotion and fanaticism comes in; Einstein was devoted to
modern physicists are fanatics. That some people are willing to devote their lives to a
theory that might not even be true and has no proof as of now that its even true.
One of the main Physicists that disagree with String theory is Lawrence Krauss
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professor of physics and astronomy at Case Western Reserve University and the author of
"The Physics of Star Trek". Professor Krauss believes that String Theory is just hype,
kind of like scientific pop culture and the reason why people choose not to believe that is
because he is raining on a non-existent parade, "If you throw cold water on something,
inevitably you always appear to be a villain. Secondly, to some extent, the question you
might have is 'Why bother?' Why debate this subject? Why not talk about the many other
things that are going on in physics? I know the public is fascinated by it, so I think it's
important to try to explain to them that, in fact, it is really a theory in crisis, or not a
theory at all." Professor Krauss believes that people should be informed that string
theory shouldnt be taken seriously. Krauss wants to keep the public from false
information, he believes that string theory is a case of fanaticism so string theory is
something that should not be something that is trusted or thought of as common
knowledge. Because if it is, society will be turned in the wrong direction since string
theory is not real and there is nothing that backs it up, it is all theoretical. Which adds
another level to the reason why the Large Hadron Collider is so important. The Large
Hadron Collider will determine whether String Theory can move forward and if it can
ever be proven depending on the Large Hadron Collider and if it can find the Higgs
Boson (god particle) because that particle delegates mass, which means that the
inconsistencies that Krauss pegs String Theorists for having will now longer have an
effect because they are there because of the Higgs Boson. But, until the day comes that
the analysis of the findings of the Large Hadron Collider is finished string theory will be
known as a case of fanaticism to skeptics and even the action of finding the Higgs boson
http://www.amazon.com/Physics-Star-Trek-Lawrence-Krauss/dp/0060977108http://www.amazon.com/Physics-Star-Trek-Lawrence-Krauss/dp/0060977108http://www.amazon.com/Physics-Star-Trek-Lawrence-Krauss/dp/0060977108 -
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is open to criticism. String theory is only somewhat mathematically sound, but
experimentally it doesn't even exist.
Krauss is trying to prevent people from devoting their lives to a cause that will
never make a change to the world of Physics. He doesn't want the world to believe and
change their lives toward something that is imaginary. It's similar to people who devote
their lives to religion and then find out it was all false. There is such a level of
devastation in that discovery that is totally destroys a person, let alone a nation of people
or a world of people. "The debate is twofold. A: Does string theory have anything to do
with the real world? And B: Is it, as I like to put it, ready for prime time? Is it worth all
the hype and has it made any progress? I think the answer is no. It's been incredibly
unsuccessful. It's a theory in crisis it hasn't really achieved any of its major goals as
espoused 20 years ago. I'm not saying a physicist shouldn't be looking at this stuff. I just
think it's not worthy of a lot of attention. Now, there are no really good alternatives, but I
can guarantee when there is, everyone is going to drop string theory like a hot potato and
go onto something else." String Theory has a lot of hype around it, and there is not
another theory in physics community yet that can tie together quantum mechanics and the
theory of relativity. But, that does not mean that String Theory is correct, it just means
that there is not something else that can produce an answer yet. But, when that day
comes and another theory is developed, String theory will pass with the wind and it's
hype and everything will be gone, all the hype, faith, science, and belief in string theory
will dissipate.
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Sydney
Kappa
3/20/08
Content Part 3: Large Hadron Collider
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a gigantic scientific machine near Geneva, it
spans across Switzerland and France 100m underground (CERN. 18 April 2008). The
LHC is particle accelerator used by physicists to study the smallest known particles. The
LHC will revolutionize our understanding, from the smallest world located in Atoms to
the vastness of the Universe. How the Large Hadron Collider will accomplish its
intended goal, id to shoot two beams of subatomic particles called 'hadrons' either
Protons (a subatomic particle with a positive charge) or lead ions (a free ion with a
positive charge) the particles will travel in opposite directions inside the circular
accelerator, with every lap, the particles will gain energy (CERN. 18 April 2008).
Physicists will use this process to recreate the conditions just after the Big Bang, this will
happen by colliding the two beams at a very high energy (Exploratorium. 13 March
2008). After the process is finished, teams of physicists from around the world will
analyze the particles created by the collisions (Exploratorium. 13 March 2008)
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This is a picture of what the clash to find the Higgs Boson might look like. It will be an intenseclash because the two particles would have been traveling through the circle of the LHC over
and over building momentum very time it makes one complete rotation and after some time, thetwo articles will clash and it mi ht look like this visual.
This is a layout of what the Large Hadron Collider looks like. The two beams are where
the two particles will be shot out of, and it also shows the circular form of the LHC, and
even though it looks small it is actually 17 miles long.
The result of the LHC is what String theory is trying to accomplish, the
connection between the large and the small. The result of the Large Hadron Collider will
supposedly produce the Higgs Boson. The Higgs Boson or the "God Particle" is one of
the main concepts that are missing from String Theory, it is the part that both critics and
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believers are vying for, just in the opposite opinions. (Exploratorium. 13 March
2008) The Higgs Boson is a particle or a bunch of particles that give others mass. If the
Higgs Boson is proven to exist, then it will be a huge step forward for the String believers
because it will prove how mass less elementary particles still manage to construct mass in
matter and that gravity is actually a particle called the graviton. Which means that all of
the particles, atoms, quarks, and subatomic particles that are missing can be accounted to
the Higgs Boson because that is the particle that decides mass and the graviton will be
one of the particles that the Higgs Boson controls. The Higgs Boson should be an absurd
particle because mass should be an inherent characteristic, but the Higgs boson decides
how mass is delegated. (Exploratorium. 13 March 200)
To understand the Higgs mechanism, imagine that a room full of physicists chattering
quietly is like space filled with the Higgs field...
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... a well-known scientist walks in, creating a disturbance as he moves across the room
and attracting a cluster of admirers with each step...
... this increases his resistance to movement, in other words, he acquires mass, just like a
particle moving through the Higgs field...
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... if a rumor crosses the room...
... it creates the same kind of clustering, but this time among the scientists themselves. In
this analogy, these clusters are the Higgs particles. (Exploratorium. 13 March 2008)
Like I stated earlier, String theory isn't proven. It has nothing that states that it is
the truth. This theory is just that, a theory it is a collection of hypothetical science. But,
what I found interesting about String Theory is the line between devotion and
fanaticism. Many other subjects also require devotion, but string theory calls for it
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without the people even knowing if it is true or not. So, this debate between devotion and
fanaticism has created a great divide within the physics community. But, the Large
Hadron Collider can shift the scales. Like I stated earlier the LHC will attempt to find t
he Higgs Boson which will be a significant step for String theory, if Higgs boson is
found. If it is not, then it will be very difficult for String Theory to continue. If string
theory is proven to be correct and the Higgs Boson is found then the quantum theory of
gravity is found, which is the main issue in connecting quantum mechanics and the
theory of relativity. If this is completed, then it will challenge what society thinks
religion is and how the world started. The Big Bang theory will be correct, and religion
to reform itself, whether it has to acknowledge the big bang theory or they have to state
that god created the big band or string theory. There could be the potential of having a
scientific and religious battle for the culture of humanity. But, if the Higgs Boson isn't
found then string theory fails, and the physics community will have to develop a new
theory to explain the relation between quantum mechanics and the theory of
relativity. Basically if string theory fails then the physics community is back at square
one and has to start all over. But most importantly the outcome of the Large Hadron
Collider will decide whether string theorists are people of amazing foresight, faith, and
devotion or if they are a group of intellectual fanatics.
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Sydney Sun
Kappa
4/13/08
String Theory Bibliography
Websites
"Ideas: Higgs Boson." Origins CERN. 2000. Exploratorium. 13 March 2008 .
Schwarz, Patricia. The Official String Theory Website. Official String Theory Website. 14
Feb 2008 .
"The Elegant Universe." Nova. 2003. PBS. March 3 2008 .
Newspaper Articles
Johnson, George. Physicists Finally Find a Way To Test Superstring Theory." New York
Times 4 April 2000
Holt, Jim. "Unstrung." Unstrung;In string theory, beauty is truth, truth beauty. Is thatreally all we need to know? 2 October 2006:
Overbye, Dennis. String Theory, at 20, Explains it all (or not)." New York Times 7
December 2004
Books
Greene, Brian. The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest
for the Ultimate Theory . New York: Vintage, 2000.
Szabo, Richard J. An Introduction to String Theory and D-Brane Dynamics. London:
Imperial College Press, 2004.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/http://www.superstringtheory.com/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/http://www.superstringtheory.com/http://www.superstringtheory.com/http://www.exploratorium.edu/origins/cern/ideas/higgs.htmlhttp://www.exploratorium.edu/origins/cern/ideas/higgs.htmlhttp://www.exploratorium.edu/origins/cern/ideas/higgs.htmlhttp://www.exploratorium.edu/origins/cern/ideas/higgs.html