34.3 Superstrings Introduced earlier in GUTS: The Unification of Forces Superstring theory is an attempt to unify gravity with the other three forces and, thus, must contain quantum gravity. The main tenet of Superstring theory is that fundamental particles, including the graviton that carries the gravitational force, act like one-dimensional vibrating strings. Since gravity affects the time and space in This OpenStax book is available for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11406/1.9 Chapter 34 | Frontiers of Physics 1365 which all else exists, Superstring theory is an attempt at a Theory of Everything (TOE). Each independent quantum number is thought of as a separate dimension in some super space (analogous to the fact that the familiar dimensions of space are independent of one another) and is represented by a different type of Superstring. As the universe evolved after the Big Bang and forces became distinct (spontaneous symmetry breaking), some of the dimensions of superspace are imagined to have curled up and become unnoticed. Forces are expected to be unified only at extremely high energies and at particle separations on the order of 10-35 m. This could mean that Superstrings must have dimensions or wavelengths of this size or smaller. Just as quantum gravity may imply that there are no time intervals shorter than some finite value, it also implies that there may be no sizes smaller than some tiny but finite value. That may be about 10-° m. If so, and if Superstring theory can explain all it strives to, then the structures of Superstrings are at the lower limit of the smallest possible size and can have no further substructure. This would be the ultimate answer to the question the ancient Greeks considered. There is a finite lower limit to space. Not only is Superstring theory in its infancy, it deals with dimensions about 17 orders of magnitude smaller than the 10-18 m details that we have been able to observe directly. It is thus relatively unconstrained by experiment, and there are a host of theoretical possibilities to choose from. This has led theorists to make choices subjectively (as always) on what is the most elegant theory, with less hope than usual that experiment will guide them. It has also led to speculation of alternate universes, with their Big Bangs creating each new universe with a random set of rules. These speculations may not be tested even in principle, since an alternate universe is by definition unattainable. It is something like exploring a self-consistent field of mathematics, with its axioms and rules of logic that are not consistent with nature. Such endeavors have often given insight to mathematicians and scientists alike and occasionally have been directly related to the description of new discoveries.

College Physics
11th Edition
ISBN:9781305952300
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Chapter1: Units, Trigonometry. And Vectors
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1CQ: Estimate the order of magnitude of the length, in meters, of each of the following; (a) a mouse, (b)...
icon
Related questions
icon
Concept explainers
Question

Superstrings
• Define Superstring theory.
• Explain the relationship between Superstring theory and the Big Bang.

34.3 Superstrings
Introduced earlier in GUTS: The Unification of Forces Superstring theory is an attempt to unify gravity with the other three
forces and, thus, must contain quantum gravity. The main tenet of Superstring theory is that fundamental particles, including the
graviton that carries the gravitational force, act like one-dimensional vibrating strings. Since gravity affects the time and space in
This OpenStax book is available for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11406/1.9
Chapter 34 | Frontiers of Physics
1365
which all else exists, Superstring theory is an attempt at a Theory of Everything (TOE). Each independent quantum number is
thought of as a separate dimension in some super space (analogous to the fact that the familiar dimensions of space are
independent of one another) and is represented by a different type of Superstring. As the universe evolved after the Big Bang
and forces became distinct (spontaneous symmetry breaking), some of the dimensions of superspace are imagined to have
curled up and become unnoticed.
Forces are expected to be unified only at extremely high energies and at particle separations on the order of 10-35 m. This
could mean that Superstrings must have dimensions or wavelengths of this size or smaller. Just as quantum gravity may imply
that there are no time intervals shorter than some finite value, it also implies that there may be no sizes smaller than some tiny
but finite value. That may be about 10-° m. If so, and if Superstring theory can explain all it strives to, then the structures of
Superstrings are at the lower limit of the smallest possible size and can have no further substructure. This would be the ultimate
answer to the question the ancient Greeks considered. There is a finite lower limit to space.
Not only is Superstring theory in its infancy, it deals with dimensions about 17 orders of magnitude smaller than the 10-18 m
details that we have been able to observe directly. It is thus relatively unconstrained by experiment, and there are a host of
theoretical possibilities to choose from. This has led theorists to make choices subjectively (as always) on what is the most
elegant theory, with less hope than usual that experiment will guide them. It has also led to speculation of alternate universes,
with their Big Bangs creating each new universe with a random set of rules. These speculations may not be tested even in
principle, since an alternate universe is by definition unattainable. It is something like exploring a self-consistent field of
mathematics, with its axioms and rules of logic that are not consistent with nature. Such endeavors have often given insight to
mathematicians and scientists alike and occasionally have been directly related to the description of new discoveries.
Transcribed Image Text:34.3 Superstrings Introduced earlier in GUTS: The Unification of Forces Superstring theory is an attempt to unify gravity with the other three forces and, thus, must contain quantum gravity. The main tenet of Superstring theory is that fundamental particles, including the graviton that carries the gravitational force, act like one-dimensional vibrating strings. Since gravity affects the time and space in This OpenStax book is available for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11406/1.9 Chapter 34 | Frontiers of Physics 1365 which all else exists, Superstring theory is an attempt at a Theory of Everything (TOE). Each independent quantum number is thought of as a separate dimension in some super space (analogous to the fact that the familiar dimensions of space are independent of one another) and is represented by a different type of Superstring. As the universe evolved after the Big Bang and forces became distinct (spontaneous symmetry breaking), some of the dimensions of superspace are imagined to have curled up and become unnoticed. Forces are expected to be unified only at extremely high energies and at particle separations on the order of 10-35 m. This could mean that Superstrings must have dimensions or wavelengths of this size or smaller. Just as quantum gravity may imply that there are no time intervals shorter than some finite value, it also implies that there may be no sizes smaller than some tiny but finite value. That may be about 10-° m. If so, and if Superstring theory can explain all it strives to, then the structures of Superstrings are at the lower limit of the smallest possible size and can have no further substructure. This would be the ultimate answer to the question the ancient Greeks considered. There is a finite lower limit to space. Not only is Superstring theory in its infancy, it deals with dimensions about 17 orders of magnitude smaller than the 10-18 m details that we have been able to observe directly. It is thus relatively unconstrained by experiment, and there are a host of theoretical possibilities to choose from. This has led theorists to make choices subjectively (as always) on what is the most elegant theory, with less hope than usual that experiment will guide them. It has also led to speculation of alternate universes, with their Big Bangs creating each new universe with a random set of rules. These speculations may not be tested even in principle, since an alternate universe is by definition unattainable. It is something like exploring a self-consistent field of mathematics, with its axioms and rules of logic that are not consistent with nature. Such endeavors have often given insight to mathematicians and scientists alike and occasionally have been directly related to the description of new discoveries.
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Stellar evolution
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
College Physics
College Physics
Physics
ISBN:
9781305952300
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
University Physics (14th Edition)
University Physics (14th Edition)
Physics
ISBN:
9780133969290
Author:
Hugh D. Young, Roger A. Freedman
Publisher:
PEARSON
Introduction To Quantum Mechanics
Introduction To Quantum Mechanics
Physics
ISBN:
9781107189638
Author:
Griffiths, David J., Schroeter, Darrell F.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Physics
ISBN:
9781337553278
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Lecture- Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy
Lecture- Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy
Physics
ISBN:
9780321820464
Author:
Edward E. Prather, Tim P. Slater, Jeff P. Adams, Gina Brissenden
Publisher:
Addison-Wesley
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (4th Editio…
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (4th Editio…
Physics
ISBN:
9780134609034
Author:
Randall D. Knight (Professor Emeritus), Brian Jones, Stuart Field
Publisher:
PEARSON