Superstring theory

[rimshaker]

I'm currently reading a book about it. The size of a so-called string is mind boggling!.... take an single electron and imagine it's expanded to the size of the solar system.... a single string is just the size of a regular electron within that same space!!! 😕

 

[interchange]

The whole string theory pitch never made sense to me. Mathematically, it is solid to say that energy components are infinitely small -- say dE; and the sum of those energies accross a particular space is just the integral with respect to E. Properties of said energy at some level seems to be able to mathematically describe any phenomenon. People like to think of things as whole unites and assign absolute magnitudes to things, but the best theories are developed through this method. Unfortunately, there is a limit to conventional observations because of Heisenberg uncertainty -- in which case, any theory (quantum mechanics, string theory) seems to be just a method of helping people understand lower level components.

 

[Shalmanese]

I would reccomend "The elegant universe" by Brian Greene for people starting out in string theroy, very concise and elegant book.

 

[pm]

Ditto on the "Elegant Universe" recommendation.

 

[bsobel]

A third post for it, it's a great introduction to the topic and a nice easy read.

 

[Elledan]

Because of wave-particle duality, these strings would be the smallest length possible: the so-called Planck-length (h).

We do not yet have detection methodes precise enough to detect things of such a small size, so all we can do for now is trying to discover the properties of these strings through indirect evidence and mathematical methods.

 

[rimshaker]

Read it over a year ago... extremely good book.

 

[Shalmanese]

bwahaha, who wants to do some non-euclidian 26 dimensional maths?

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

<< Ditto on the "Elegant Universe" recommendation. >>



Good book so far (I'm about half way through) *rant* but I wish the guy would've accelerated the relativity & basic Quantum theory section... Why does every single book aimed at armchair scientists feel the need to reeducate me about these easy-as-pie concepts? *end rant*

Does anyone know of good books that are a little more mathematical that discuss the subject? Say using undergraduate university math levels (integrals, derivatives, Taylor polynomials, etc.. all solved for you), that would be nice.
-Ice

 

[Haircut]

icecool, you may want to have a look at 'The nature of space and time' by Stephen Hawking & Roger Penrose. It is not a textbook, but is not suited for a layman.
If you have done some quantum mechanics and a bit of tensor calculus then it is reasonably straightforward.

I have to say that it is not the best book I have ever read, but short of reading a textbook on gauge theory it is probably the closest to a more mathematical book.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

<< icecool, you may want to have a look at 'The nature of space and time' by Stephen Hawking & Roger Penrose. It is not a textbook, but is not suited for a layman.
If you have done some quantum mechanics and a bit of tensor calculus then it is reasonably straightforward.

I have to say that it is not the best book I have ever read, but short of reading a textbook on gauge theory it is probably the closest to a more mathematical book. >>



I'll take a look at it, sounds interesting... I have done basic quantum mechanics and some tensor mathematics...

Has anyone read Hawking's "The Universe in a Nutshell"? Is it any good?

 

[element]

"God does not play dice with the universe" -Albert Einstein

"Albert, don't tell God what to do" -Neils Bohr

"I wasn't telling God what to do. I was telling YOU what God does not do. Really Neils, your inability to grasp this simple concept Bohrs me." -Me as Albert Einstein (on crack) (And no it's not me on crack as Albert Einstein)

 

[RossGr]

I am curently working on the Hawkings , Penrose book, It is actually a series of 6 seminars they gave, 3 a piece, It seems that you need a basic understanding of GR and knowledge of Tensors to get the most out of it. I am still working on the first paper by Hawking. There is a lot of infromation. If you can handle the math give it a read. (I am struggling!) Tensors make me tenser!