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Why do strings vibrate??
The discussion centers on the fundamental concept of string vibrations, positing that strings at the Planck length (approximately 10-33 cm) vibrate at specific resonant frequencies. It highlights that the graviton, a theoretical particle responsible for gravitational force, is modeled as a string with zero wave amplitude. The conversation also addresses the implications of string theory on the universe's size during a "big crunch," asserting that it cannot shrink below the size of a string. Additionally, the phenomenon of zero point energy is explained, emphasizing its role in preventing certain physical systems from reaching absolute zero temperature.
PREREQUISITESPhysicists, students of quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the fundamental theories of the universe and the nature of sound production through string vibrations.
The basic idea is that the fundamental constituents of reality are strings of the Planck length (about 10-33 cm) which vibrate at resonant frequencies. The http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Graviton (the proposed messenger particle of the gravitational force), for example, is predicted by the theory to be a string with wave amplitude zero. Another key insight provided by the theory is that no measurable differences can be detected between strings that wrap around dimensions smaller than themselves and those that move along larger dimensions (i.e., effects in a dimension of size R equal those whose size is 1/R). Singularities are avoided because the observed consequences of "big crunches" never reach zero size. In fact, should the universe begin a "big crunch" sort of process, string theory dictates that the universe could never be smaller than the size of a string, at which point it would actually begin expanding
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Superstring_theory
This is a very significant physical result because it tells us that the energy of a system described by a harmonic oscillator potential cannot have zero energy. Physical systems such as atoms in a solid lattice or in polyatomic molecules in a gas cannot have zero energy even at absolute zero temperature. The energy of the ground vibrational state is often referred to as "zero point vibration". The zero point energy is sufficient to prevent liquid helium-4 from freezing at atmospheric pressure, no matter how low the temperature.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/quantum/hosc4.html#c1
Fig. 1. In quantum chromodynamics, a confining flux tube forms between distant static charges. This leads to quark confinement - the potential energy between (in this case) a quark and an antiquark increases linearly with the distance between them.
http://www.cerncourier.com/main/article/40/7/16/1/cernexotic1_9-00